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WASHINGTON MONUMENT. 



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\A 



A STORY FOR BOYS, 

AND 

A GUIDE TO PERSONS VISITING THE CITY, 

DESIEING TO SEE THE 

PRINCIPAL POINTS OF INTEREST, 

WITH 

AN INDEX 

SHOWING THE 
OF 

EACH POINT MENTIONED. 
(ILLUSTRATED.) 






■ RICHMOND, VA.: 

McCAKTHY & ELLYSON. 

1870. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by 

c. McCarthy, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, 
D.C. 



INDEX 



^t)o&Jit'S gofnte of interest jKcntioncU, Jriitf) tfjeir CHiact 
iLocatton. 



Armory Bridge, at foot of Flftli Street. 

Gamble's Ilill, south end of Fourth Street. 

Tredegar Iron Works, on Canal, between it 
and the River, just above the Armory. 

Belle Isle, James River, about three quarters 
of a mile above the city, accessible only from the 
south side, but visible from the Canal bank. 

National Cemetery, Williamsburg Road, three 
miles southeast of Richmond. 

Pump House, or Water Works, on J. R. & K. 
Canal, one mile from the city. 

Richmond College, western terminus of Broad 
Street. 

Alms House, north end of Third Street. 

Shockoe Hill Cemetry, north end of Third 
Street. 

Davis Mansion, corner of Leigh and Twelfth 
Streets. 

Mechanicsville, head of Turnpike which enters 



IV INDEX. 

the city at the intersection of Nineteenth and 
Venable Streets. 

Richmond Female Institute, Tenth between 
Marshall and Clay Streets. 

Washinirton INIonument, Capitol Square. 

Capitol Square, entrances Ninth and Grace 
and Capitol and Tenth Streets. 

Broad Street Methodist Church, corner Tenth 
and Broad Streets. 

First Presbyterian Church, corner Tenth and 
Capitol Streets. 

Clay's, (Henry) Statue, Capitol Square. 

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, corner Ninth and 
Grace Streets. 

State Capitol, Capitol Square. 

Governor's Mansion, Capitol Square. 

Church Hill, east end of Broad Street. 

Monumental Church (Episcopal), Broad, be- 
tween Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets. 

St. John's Church (Episcopal), Church-hill, 
corner Broad and Twenty-fourth Streets. 

Libby's Hill, extreme south end of Twenty- 
Ninth Street, and east end Main. 

Chimborazo, extreme east end of Broad Street, 
overlookino- Ptocketts. 

Oakwood Cemetery, Blakey's Mill Road, one 
mile from the city. ^ 



II^DEX. V 

Drewry's Bluff, James River below Richmond 
eight miles. 

Libby Prison, corner Twentieth and Gary 
Streets. 

Castle Thunder, Gary between Eighteenth and 
Nineteenth Streets. 

Old Stone House, Main between Nineteenth 
and Twentieth Streets. 

Mayo's Bridge, foot of Fourteenth Street, 
crossing the James River. 

Manchester, south side of James River, op- 
posite Richmond, Virginia. 

Gotton and Woollen Mills, south end Mayo's 
Bridge, Manchester. 

Gallego Mills, south end of Twelfth Street, 
foot of Ganal Basin. 

Haxalls' Mills, River Bank, continuation of 
Twelfth Street, south end. 

Ruins of Warwick and Barksdale's Mill, the 
largest flour mill of the world. Twelfth Street, 
one square beyond Gary, south. 

Danville Railroad Bridge and Depot, south 
end of Virginia, or Thirteenth Street. 

Rocketts, extreme eastern portion of the city, 
near the river. 

Mayo's Warehouse, Fourteenth Street and 
River Bank. 



VI INDEX. 



Ballard House, Fourteenth and Franklin 
Streets. 

Flower Garden, west end of Grace Street. 

General Lee's Residence, Franklin between 
Seventh and Ei,i;;hth Streets. 

Ruins of United Presbyterian Chyrch, corner 
Franklin and Eighth Streets. 

Spotswood Hotel, corner Eighth and Main 
Streets. 

Ruins of the Confederate War Department, 
Ninth between Main and Franklin Streets. 

Post ofi&ce, Main between Tenth and Eleventh 
Streets. 

Custom House, Main between Tenth and 
Eleventh Streets. 

President Davis' office, Main between Tenth 
and Eleventh Streets. 

Confederate Treasury, Main between Tenth 
and Eleventh Streets. 

Confederate Congress, Capitol Building. 

Old Market House, corner Main and Seven- 
teenth Streets. 

The Reservoir, western terminus City Railway, 
near Hollywood Cemetery. 

Camp Lee, old Fair Grounds, west end of 
Broad Street, (continuation one mile from city.) 

Theatre, corner Broad and Seventh Streets. 

Richmond Medical College, corner College 



INDEX. Vll 



(which Is an extension north of Fourteenth,) and 
Marshall Streets. 

Old African Church, corner Broad and Four- 
teenth or College Streets. 

First Baptist Church, corner Twelfth and 
Broad Streets. 

Marshall's Residence, corner Marshall and 
Ninth Streets. 

Bushrod Washins^ton's Law Office, Ninth 
Street, in rear of St. Paul's Church, between 
Grace and Franklin Streets. 

Petersburg Railroad Bridge, foot of Eighth 
Street, crossing the James River. 

Ruins of Paper Mill, Eighth Street and River. 

Tunnel Gamble's Hill, on Byrd Street from 
Fourth to Second. 

Penitentiary (State Prison) south end of First 
Street, visible from Gamble's Hill. 

Each of the first five chapters of this book laya 
out a walk. A stranger following the course 
laid out will see all the most interesting points 
in the city, and in passing from one point to 
another will necessarily pass through the most 
beautiful portions of it. 

The Map of the City shows the direction of the 
streets to be, those numbered North and South, 
those named East and West. 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOi^D. 



L 



NCLE FRED, do you remem- 
ber your promise, to commence 
soon our walks about Rich- 
mond ?" 

" They shall commence this after- 
noon. We dine at two o'clock ; sup- 
pose we start immediately after din- 
ner?" 

" Where shall we go, uncle ?" 
"I think a good route would be 
up the canal to Ritchie's Bridge, 
cross there, and returning, pass 
through Hollywood Cemetry," says 
Uncle Fred. 

9 



10 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



"I will be ready," says Frank, 
and away he went to hunt up 
several articles which he was fond 
of carrying with him when walking. 

The canal which Mr. Stevens 
proposed to follow in his walk, 
was the James River and Kanawha 
Canal, which follows the course of 
the James River. 

The route was a desirable one 
for two reasons : first, it was good, 
because he intended to take a series 
of walks, which would show his 
nephew the whole city, and so 
commencing on the northern and 
western side he could move around 
to the other extremity. The time 
having arrived, Frank bounded into 
the sitting-room, armed with a large 
glass, which he intended to use 



WALKS ABOUT ElCHMOND. 11 

when he reached the high ground 
beyond the city limits. 

"Come on, uncle, I am ready; 
and besides, it's three o'clock. How 
far will we have to walk ?" 

" About five miles ; get your hat 
and let's be oflP." 

Passing down through some of 
the most beautiful streets in the 
city, they soon reached the old 
bridge which crosses the canal at 
State Armory. Passing over, they 
were on the towpath, along which 
the horses travel when towing the 
boats. This path is on the side 
of the canal nearest the river. 

From it you have beautiful views 
of the scenery along the river and 
beyond. The hills are, many of 
them, surmounted by fortifications, 



12 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

built during the war to protect the 
roads on tlie south side. 

As soon as the bridge was crossed, 
Frank commenced to question his 
uncle about the buildings around 
about him. 

" Uncle, what old ruins are those 
just before us?" 

"The ruins of the old State 
Armory. It was built about the 
year 1800. Before the war the 
arms and ammunition of the State 
were stored here. Here were the 
quarters of the State Guard. When 
the war commenced, the Confederate 
Government took possession of the 
buildings and machinery, and used 
them during the war. When the 
city was evacuated in 1866, the 
place was burned by order of the 
military authorities. 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 13 



"When I was a boy, the older 
boys in the city had a soldier com- 
pany, all uniformed and equipped, 
and the captain of the State Guard 
drilled them here in the Armory 
yard. I was very anxious to be one 
of that company, but was too 
small." 

They now moved on up the 
towpath. Soon there appeared off 
to the right on a high hill, a beauti- 
ful castle. Frank admired it very 
much, and asked how old it was. 

*^It is not an old building," his 
uncle replied. " It is called Pratt's 
Cottage, and is built on Gamble's 
Hill — so called because the ground 
was once owned by a Colonel Gam- 
ble." 

Presently they heard a great 
noise, and the air smelt of smoke. 
2 



14 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

" What is all that noise, uncle ? 
and where does all this smoke come 
from ?" 

" Why we are near the Tredegar 
Iron Works, where locomotives, 
railroad iron, and other things 
in that line are made. During 
the war this was a place of great 
importance. Here we made most 
of the heavy guns for fortifications, 
and war vessels. Here church bells, 
probably, and other things which 
are useful in peace, were melted 
to be made into field pieces. 

"I sincerely hope, Frank, that 
there will be no more use for guns 
in this country. Peace is better 
than war; plenty is better than 
want; and the music of church 
bells sweeter than the booming of 
cannon. 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 15 



"Would you like to go m and 
look around? I suppose we can 
get permission." 

" Oh ! very much." 

Mr. Stevens stopped at the office, 
and got permission to go all through 
the works. 

They passed into the rolling mill, 
where the hands were busily hand- 
ling the white hot iron. 

The puddlers were stripped to 
the waist, and when the door of 
a furnace opened, the glare of the 
molten metal made them look like 
demons. These puddlers would haul 
out large balls of blazing metal, 
and pass it to others. These would 
throw it between the rollers, and 
soon the mass would be the desired 
length and size. 

These long bars of iron, as they 



16 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

passed through the rollers and back 
again, looked like huge serpents. 
It was a beautiful sight to see 
the saw at work. 

When a bar of iron was to be 
cut, it was thrown against a cir- 
cular saw, and the brilliant sparks 
flew in every direction. Frank 
thought it beat fireworks, and 
was delighted; but confessed that 
he felt very uneasy. 

The whirling and buzzing of the 
large wheels, and the rapid move- 
ments of the iron, was to him 
rather unpleasant. He was relieved 
when his uncle called him to move 
on. 

Older persons than Frank have 
been made to feel uncomfortable 
in this interesting place. 

Just beyond the iron works the 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 17 



canal bank is considerably higher 
than the river, and the view of 
the " Falls " is very good. Here, 
too, the fortifications commenced, 
and Frank had a chance to use 
his glass. 

" What old place is that on the 
other side of the river which makes 
such a smoke?" says Frank. 

" That is the Old Dominion Nail 
Works. It is not on the other side, 
but on an island — the famous 
" Belle Isle," where prisoners were 
confined during the war. The 
place being surrounded by water, 
made it very difficult to escape, 
and it did not require so many 
men to guard them here. 

" Do you see that flat portion 
of the ishand at the lower end ?" 

'' Yes, sir," 

2^ I 



18 ^ALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

" There prisoners were camped. 
On the hill overlooking this camp, 
"vvere two pieces of artillery, which, 
in case the prisoners had made an 
attempt to overpower the guard, 
might have been fired into the 
camp. Tliese guns were never 
used, however, except to fire volleys 
over some men who were drowned 
in their attempts to escape. The 
bodies were in the river, and it 
was supposed that firing the guns 
would cause them to rise to the 
surface, so that they might be 
taken ashore and buried. 

" There was a small space en- 
closed for burial purposes, and many 
prisoners were buried in it. After 
the war they were removed by the 
Government, and buried in the 
National Cemetery." 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 19 

They now resumed their walk, 
and as they advanced, the bank 
rose higher and higher, until the 
river was far below, on the left, 
while the opposite bank of the 
canal was gradually rising into 
bluffs. 

"Well," says Frank, "there is 
a curious house ! Why did any 
body ever build a house in such 
a place? 

" See what a beautiful garden, 
too ! And there is a swing, and 
a fountain ! Why, there is water 
all around the house. The river 
on one side, and a large pool this 
Bide !" 

" That is the Pump House, Frank, 
where water is taken from the river, 
and forced by large pumps, aAvay 
up on the hills near the city." 



20 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

Uncle Fred now led the way 
down a long stairs, and into the 
pump house. Frank was delighted 
with what he saw. The ponderous 
machinery worked away as smoothly 
as though it had no work to do, but 
"^was only moving for the fun of it. 
And yet it was pushing and driving 
hundreds of gallons of water every 
moment the distance of a mile." 

Every thing about the place was 
so neat and clean, and there were 
so many cards hung up asking peo- 
ple to be very particular, that Frank 
used every mat he passed vigor- 
ously. 

" There it is kept in a large pool, 
called the reservoir. Iron pipes 
extend from the reservoir to all 
parts of the city, and convey water 
to every house." 



WALKS ABOUT KICIIMOND. 21 



In the upper rooms, above the 
floor on which were the pumps, there 
were many curiosities, mineral, ani- 
mal, and vegetable, neatly arranged 
and labelled. 

Among other things, a large shell, 
not of a fish, but of iron, and loaded 
with powder, which was accidentally 
fired through the building, when the 
inspectors were trying cannon on the 
river bank. 

Uncle Fred found he would not 
have time to go up to the bridge, so 
be concluded to go under the canal, 
through the tunnel, built for the 
water pipes to pass, and spend the 
remaining hour or two in Hollywood 
Cemetery. 

Frank was anxious to know how 
the tunnel was ever made. lie 
thought it strange the water above 



22 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



did not break tlirougli and drown 
the workmen. 

'' Why," said Uncle Fred, " they 
built a bridge across the tunnel, and 
let the water in the canal pass right 
along as usual." 

" Well," said Frank, " I have heard 
of a bridge over water, but I never 
heard of water going over a bridge 
before 1" 

The tunnel opens into the most 
interesting portion of the cemetery. 
Within a few steps is the grave of 
President Monroe. 

From the biow of the hill here, 
the landscape embraces woods, rivers, 
hills, and plains. 

The bridges which connect Rich- 
mond and Mancester stretch across 
the river at considerable elevation, 
and the trains as they pass seem to 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 23 



*^feel their way" over the «prrow 
path Laid for them. 

" What a beautiful place, imcle ! 
It would not seem so sad to be buried 
here, where all is bright and beau- 
tiful. How different from those 
gloomy old burial phaces which we 
are accustomed to." 

Frank, having gazed to his heart's 
content, turned and followed his 
uncle to Monroe's tomb. He was 
very much disappointed to find it 
very poorly marked. Instead of a 
good monument of granite, a very 
old iron contrivance covers his grave. 

Here Mr. Stevens gave Frank a 
short account of the life and death 
of Monroe, and then walked on. 

On the way to the " Soldiers' Sec- 
tion," which is at the opposite side 
of the cemetery, they stopped at the 



24 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

grave of General Stuart, w-lio com- 
manded the cavalry corps of the 
army of Northern Virginia. He was 
wounded in battle only a few miles 
from Richmond. He lived but a 
short time after reaching the city. 

The road through the cemetery 
is splendidly shaded by the immense 
oaks, which are the natural growth. 

Soon they arrived at the great 
Bpot in Hollywood. Rising in the 
midst of the graves of the thousands 
who sleep in the " Soldiers' Section," 
is an immense granite hill, pyramid 
in shape, erected by the Ladies' Hol- 
lywood Memorial Association. 

Each grave has a stake at the 
head, on which is a number referr- 
ing to the register, which gives the 
name of the tenant. 

Most of the soldiers buried here 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 25 



died in the hospitals in and around 
the city, either from wounds received 
in battle, or disease. 

In this section are buried men 
from every State in the South, so 
that it is not only dear to Virginia, 
but has a hold on the hearts of the 
people of all the States, and will be 
a bond of affection between them for 
all ages to come. 

In May of each year the ladies of 
Richmond, by thousands, come here 
and strew the ground with flowers. 

Uncle Fred translated the inscrip- 
tions on the monument for Frank's 
benefit, and told him the names of 
some of his comrades buried in Hol- 
lywood. 

Mr. Stevens would have lingered 
here, but remembering he had a boy 
along, who was not fond of standing 

3* 



26 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 



still, started homeward. Passing out 
at the gate nearest the city, they 
were soon at home, with a good 
appetite, waiting for supper. 

Frank enjoyed the walk intensely. 
He saw so many things to interest 
him. He made good use of his glass 
while near the river, and felt amply 
repaid for the trouble of carrying it. 
A promise from his uncle that the 
next walk should be soon, completed 
his satisfaction. 

After tea, Frank gave his time 
and attention to the amusement of 
his little cousin, who, too young for 
so long a walk, had been at home 
all the afternoon. 

Having been raised in the coun- 
try, he could tell her a great many 
things to please and instruct her. 

He felt very grateful to his uncle 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 27 



for his kindness, and tried in every 
possible way to make himself agree- 
able. 

Of course he succeeded. No boy 
who really tries to please^ is apt to 
fail. 



28 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



II. 

11 R. STEVENS' family consisted 
||] of himself, wife, and daughter. 
■^^He was not a wealthy man, 
but one who remembered his 
boyhood, appreciated the wants and 
feelings of boys, and was always 
ready to afford them innocent amuse- 
ment. 

He was liberal with his means and 
time, when either would add to the 
pleasure of young people. In the 
spring and fall he frequently spent 
whole days walking about the city 
and its environs. For company, he 
usually took some boy old enough 
to stand the fatigue, and to appre- 
ciate the luxury. 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 29 



Frank's visits were a great plea- 
sure to him, and saved him the 
trouble of hunting up a companion 
for his walks. 

About a week after the walk we 
read of in the last chapter, Uncle 
Fred awoke Frank early one morn- 
ing, and proposed a walk before 
breakfast. 

Frank made a hasty toilet, and in 
ten minutes was ready to start. 

Passing through a cross-street^ 
they struck " Broad Street," and fol- 
lowing the Fredericksburg Eailroad, 
soon arrived at the grounds of Rich- 
mond College, a large brick building. 
The college was incorporated by act 
of legislature in 1832. Returning 
to the point where the railroad di- 
verges from the road to the college. 
Uncle Fred took a road to the left, 



30 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



and, passing beyond the city limits, 
got into the " Meadow-Bridge" road. 
About a mile from the city, the road 
was heavily fortified during the war, 
and the works are now in almost 
perfect order, with the exception of 
magazines ; but, of course, have no 
armament. Taking the parapet for 
a path, they walked several miles, 
occasionally getting fine views of the 
city. 

" Uncle, were these fortifications 
ever used ?'* 

'' No. I remember seeing troops 
camped here when a raiding party 
was expected, but the guns were 
never used. This is a portion of 
what was called the ^ inner line' of 
works. There were three lines 
around Eichmond. The third line 
sometimes came into use, but the 



T7ALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 31 



intermediate and inner were seldom 
used." 

^' What steeples are those we see 
rising above all the buildings in the 
city ?" 

" They are the steeples of St. 
Paul's Episcopal, First Presbyterian, 
Broad Street Methodist, and the 
German Lutheran churches. That 
sharp, light spire you will see when 
we visit the Capitol Square this 
afternoon ; St. Paul's church is near 
there. Returning home, we will go 
by the Almshouse and Cemetery." 

A few minutes more brought them 
in sight of the almshouse, which is 
situated on a high point at the city 
limits. The road, as it nears the 
city, rises abruptly, and is quite rug- 
ged, but soon the hill was mounted, 
and Frank stood before a fine, 



32 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



roomy building, surrounded by large 
grounds. 

" This is the almshouse," said 
Uncle Fred ; " and a comfortable 
looking place it is." 

*' Can any one who is poor get a 
home and food here, uncle ?" 

" Yes, if residents of the city, and 
unable to work, by making applica- 
tion to the proper authorities they 
are given food and clothing and a 
bed. In olden times, before Chris- 
tianity had enlightened the world, 
the poor were forced to beg from 
passers-by the food necessary to 
sustain life. Now, in all civilized 
lands, the poor are cared for, and 
provided with homes." 

Just in front of the almshouse is 
the entrance to the Shockoe-Hill 
Cemetery, which, though not so ex- 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 33 



tensive as Hollywood, is a sweet, 
quiet place, abounding in evergreens 
and flowers. 

They then walked leisurely 
through the cemetery, and then 
home. 

After breakflist, Mr. Stevens went 
down town to business, leaving Frank 
at home to amuse himself until the 
afternoon, when he proposed to re- 
sume his walk. 

After dinner, Uncle Fred started 
out again, and went directly to the 
" Davis Mansion," which is situated 
on the brow of a hill, overlooking a 
valley, beyond which rise immense 
hills, which, during the war, were 
covered with hospital buildings. 

The house was purchased by the 
city of Richmond for Mr. Davis, 
when Richmond became the capital 



34 WALKS ABOUT KICHMOND. 



of the Confederate States. He oc- 
cupied it up to the time the city was 
evacuated. 

When the Federal army entered 
the city, in 1865, the commanding 
general made it his headquarters, 
and for five years it was occupied by 
the military authorities. 

It was then restored to the city. 

" So that is the ' Davis Mansion T 
said Frank, as he stood on the brow 
of the hill. 

" Yes. For several years Mr. Da- 
vis might be seen every morning 
walking quietly from this house to 
his office. His little boys, no doubt, 
have romped together on this hill 
many a day. What a good view of 
the river we have from this point ? 
When the great battles around Rich- 
mond were fought, Jackson com- 



WALKS ABOUT KICHMOND. 35 

menced the attack near Meclianics- 
ville, and, as night approached, the 
bursting shells were plainly visible 
from this hill. The road to Median- 
icsville passes along the ridge of 
those hills beyond the valley." 

" Is this valley a part of the city, 
uncle ?" 

" Oh, yes, a very interesting part, 
too, to the boys. For probably thirty 
years, the boys of ' Butchertown,' as 
this place is called, and the ' Hill 
Cats,' as the ^ Butcher Cats ' call the 
boys who live up here, have had a 
war on hand, and nearly every day 
a rock battle occurs, in which rocks 
fly thick and fast. Sometimes the 
Butcher Cats carry the hill, and 
sometimes the Hill Cats carry the 
war into Butchertown, and drive its 
defenders out. The police have tried 



^6 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



in vain to stop these rock battles. 
At least once a week they must have 
a fight. Away to the right, you can 
see the river for a mile or two. On 
those hills beyond the valley, there 
was an immense hospital during the 
war. The buildings have all been 
destroyed." 

" Can you show me the school 
which cousin attends ?" 

"Yes; it is only a few squares 
from here. There is the tower in 
sight. The Eichmond Female Insti- 
tute is a large building, two squares 
from the Davis Mansion." 

Frank was interested in it only 
because his cousin went to school 
there. 

While standing in front of it, he 
discovered a small portion of the 
Washington Monument in view, and. 



"WALKS ABOUT KICHMOND. 37 

in his anxiety to see the monument, 
forgot the institute altogether, and 
would hardly wait to hear its his- 
tory. 

The building was converted into 
a hospital during the war, and was 
crowded with wounded and sick sol- 
diers. 

Walking on, a few steps brought 
them to the Capitol Square. 

"Those churches you passed a 
moment ago, Frank, are two whose 
steeples you saw when out on the 
fortifications. Here we are, now look 
at the monument to your heart's con- 
tent." 

" How splendid, uncle ! Oh, how 
splendid ! Please tell me all about 
it, uncle ?" 

" The ceremony of laying the cor- 



38 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 



ner-stone took place on the 2 2d of 
February, 1850. 

"General Zacbary Taylor was 
present, and many other great men 
besides. 

" The contract stipulated that the 
equestrian group, in bronze, should 
be fifteen English feet from the 
upper surface of the platform to the 
top of the chapeau, and that the 
pedestrian statues should be ten 
English feet in height. Two shields, 
representing the coat-of-arms of Vir- 
ginia, were included in the contract. 
[These shields are stored in the 
basement of the Capitol.] 

" It is hardly necessary to tell 
you anything about Washington. 
Every boy, of your age, in the coun- 
try, is familiar with his history. The 
Btatue speaks for itself. It is cer- 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 39 



tainlj the grandest work of the kind 
in this country. 

" Now, let us walk around and 
see those statues which surround 
the column. 

" Listen, while I read : 

" ' Thomas Jefferson, of Albe- 
marle County, Virginia, was first a 
member of the Legislature, then 
member of Congress, and author of 
the Declaration of Lidependence. 
Resigning his seat in Congress, he 
was again elected to the Legislature. 
In June, 1779, he was elected Gov- 
ernor of Virginia. In June, 1783, 
he was again elected to Congress. 
In 1797, he was elected Vice-Presi- 
dent, and in 1800, President.' He 
died July 4th, 1826. 

'' I think, Frank, I will read you, 



40 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



from this little book, a short account 
of each of the others. 

" ' Next to Jefferson, is George 
Mason, born in 1726, in Stafford 
County, Virginia. 

" ' He was the author of the first 
constitution for a free common- 
wealth. 

" ' He was also author of the 
"Virginia Bill of Rights." 

" ' His complexion was swarthy, 
his face grave, with a radiant dark 
eye, his raven hair sprinkled with 
gray ; his aspect rather foreign ; 
nearly six feet in stature ; of a large, 
athletic frame, and active step. Plis 
presence was commanding, his bear- 
ing lofty. He was a systematic and 
prosperous planter, and devoted his 
leisure to study. 

'' ' This eminent Virginian died at 



WALKS ABOUT RICmiOND. 41 

his seat, ^' Giuiston Hall," in the au- 
tumn of 1792.'" 

'' Now for Patrick Henry," says 
Frank ; " 1 tliink he must have been 
a speaker." 

^' Yes, a very powerful speaker. 
His first success was as a lawyer, in 
a test suit at Hanover Court-house. 

" At the conclusion of his speech 
on that occasion, he was carried from 
the court-house in triumph, on the 
shoulders of his admirers. 

" ' He was born May 29th, 1736, 

in Hanover County, Virginia. In 

1765, he was elected a member of 

the House of Burgesses, where he 

introduced his celebrated resolutions 

against the " Stamp Act," which were 

adopted by a majority after a stormy 

debate.' It was in the midst of this 

debate, that Henry exclaimed : " Ca3- 
4* 



42 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



sar had his Brutus, Charles the First 
his Cromwell, and George the Third 
— (Treason ! Treason ! cried the 
Speaker) — Treason ! resounded from 
every part of the . house. Henry 
finished the sentence — " may profit 
by the example." 

" ^ In 1774, he was sent as a dele- 
gate from Virginia to the First Colo- 
nial Congress. In 1775, he was a 
member of the Convention which 
met in St. John's Church, and pro- 
posed that the *^ Colony be put in a 
state of defence." He closed his 
speech, in reply to those who op- 
posed his resolution, with the im- 
mortal sentence : " I know not what 
course others may take, but, as for 
me, give me Liberty^ or give me 
Death I " 

" ' Soon after the seizure of the 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 43 

gunpowder, at Williamsburg, by Lord 
Dunmore, in April, 1775, Henry 
summoned the Hanover volunteers, 
and, marching towards the (then) 
capital, compelled Dunmore's agent 
to pay the value of the powder. In 
June, Dunmore fled from Williams- 
burg, and, in July, a provisional gov- 
ernment was organized at Richmond. 
Henry was elected colonel of the first 
regiment, and commander of all the 
forces4o be enrolled. 

*^ ^ In 177G, he w^as elected the 
first Governor of the Common- 
wealth, and filled the office until 
1779, when he was ineligible under 
the Constitution. He served in the 
Legislature until tlie end of the war, 
when he was again elected Governor, 
and served until 1786, when he re- 
signed. In 1788, he v/as a member 



44 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

of the Convention which ratified the 
Federal Constitution. He opposed 
its ratification. In 1794, Henry re- 
tired from the bar. In the following 
year, Washington appointed him 
Secretary of State, but he declined 
the appointment, as he did that of 
envoy to France, offered him by Mr. 
Adams, and that of Governor, ten- 
dered in 1796. He died in Char- 
lotte County, on the 6th of June, 
1799.'" 

" Now, about Lewis, uncle ; who 
was he ? How strong and bold he 
looks ! " 

" ' Andrew Lewis was born in the 
province of Ulster, Ireland. He was 
brought to Virginia by his father, 
who settled in Augusta County. He 
fought Indians for the British until 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 45 



the Colonies took up arms, whea he 
commenced on the British. 

"^Washington had so high an 
opinion of the bravery and military 
skill of General Lewis, that, at the 
commencement of the Revolutionary 
War, he recommended him to Con- 
gress as one of the major-generals of 
the American army. It is also said 
that, when Washington was commis- 
sioned as commander-in-chief, he ex- 
pressed the wish that the appoint- 
ment had been given to General 
Lewis. At his solicitation, Lewis 
accepted the commission of brigadier- 
general, and was soon after ordered 
to the command of the Virginia 
troops stationed near Williamsburg. 
On the 9th of July, 1776, he ex- 
pelled Lord Dunmore from his re- 
treat on Gwynn's Island. General 



46 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



Lewis resigned his command, in 
1780, to return home, being ill with 
a fever contracted in tlie low coun- 
try. He died on his way, in Bed- 
ford County, about forty miles from 
his own house on the Roanoke, la- 
mented by all acquainted with his 
meritorious services and superior 
qualities. 

" ^ General Lewis was upwards of 
six feet in stature, and of uncommon 
activity and strength. His counte- 
nance was stern, his deportment re- 
served, and his presence command- 
iuG:. Clad in his frin£!;ed huntino: 
shirt, and carrying his long rifle, 
Lewis was an accurate type of a 
race of men, who, in the obstinate 
struggle of the Revolution, bore the 
" heat and burden of the day." 
When he was a commissioner on 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 47 

behalf of Virginia, at the treaty of 
Fort Stanwix, in New York, in 1768, 
the Governor of that colony remarked 
of him, that ^' the earth seemed to 
tremble under him as he walked.' " 

" What a solemn looking old man 
this next one is ! " says Frank ; 
who is he ? " 

'' ' John Marshall was born in Fau- 
quier County, Virginia, September 
24th, 1755. He commenced to study 
law when eighteen years of age, but 
soon the war for Independence com- 
menced, and he joined a volunteer 
company, of which he was made a 
lieutenant. 

" ' In May, 1777, he was promoted 
to a captaincy in the Continental 
service. 

" ' He was in the battles of Bran- 
dy wine, and Monmouth, and shared 



48 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

the hardships and sufferings of the 
troops at Valley Forge. 

" ^In the winter of 1779, he was 
sent to Virginia to take charge of 
the new levies proposed to be raised 
by 'authority of the Legislature. In 
the summer of 1780, he was licensed 
to practice law, but returned to the 
army, and continued in service until 
the termination of Arnold's invasion. 
He then resigned his commission. 

"^n 1782, he was elected to the 
Legislature from Fauquier County. 
In 1787, he represented Henrico 
County in the Legislature, and took 
a conspicuous part in the political 
debates of that period. He was a 
member of the Convention which 
ratified the Federal Constitution, 
and was one of the ablest defenders 
of that instrument. He afterwards 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 49 



served in the General Assembly, for 
several sessions, as delegate from the 
city of Richmond. 

'' ^ In 1800, he was appointed Sec- 
retary of State by President Adams. 
On the 31st January, 1801, he was 
appointed Chief Justice of the Su- 
preme Court of the United States. 
The Senate unanimously confirmed 
the appointment, and thus com- 
menced that long and illustrious ju- 
dicial career, wliich has made the 
name of John Marshall so widely 
honored. In 1829, he was a mem- 
ber of the convention to revise the 
State Constitution, and, during the 
session, delivered a speech, regarded 
as an unrivalled specimen of lucid 
and conclusive reasoning. He held 
the office of Chief Justice until the 

5 



50 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



close of his life. He died at Phila- 
delphia on the 6th of July, 1835.' " 

** Now, uncle, who was Nelson?" 

" ' Thomas Nelson was born at 
York, Virginia, on the 26th of De- 
cember, 1738. 

" 'In 1774, he was a member of 
the House of Burgesses. In 1775-6, 
he was a member of the Continental 
Conorress, and sis^ned the Declaration 
of Independence. In 1777, he re- 
signed his seat in Congress, and re- 
turned to Virginia. 

" ' He was then made commander- 
in-chief of the forces of Virginia. 

" ' At one time he went security 
for the State for as much as he was 
worth. By this, and other patriotic 
acts, he suffered heavy losses. 

" ' In 1781, when the storm of war 
burst upon Virginia, General Nelson 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 51 

was actively employed in effecting 
plans to oppose the enemy, and, suc- 
ceeding Mr. Jefferson as Governor, 
he united in himself the two offices 
of governor and commander of the 
military forces. By great efforts, 
Governor Nelson kept his forces to- 
gether until the surrender of Corn- 
wallis. To do this, he exerted his 
personal influence, his official au- 
thority, and his private fortune, to 
the utmost extent. After the sur- 
render at York town, General Wash- 
ington, in his report, made an ac- 
knowledgment of the valuable ser- 
vices of Governor Nelson, and the 
militia under his command, during 
the siege, in securing that important 
result. 

'' ' In a month after that event, 
Governor Nelson was compelled, by 



52 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

impaired health, to retire again to 
private life. He never again entered 
public life. His time was passed in 
retirement at his plantations in 
Hanover, and at York. His health 
gradually declining, he died in Hano- 
ver, January 4th, 1789.'" 

After a look at the allegorical 
figures which represent Independ- 
ence, Bill of Eights, Revolution, Co- 
lonial Times, Justice, and Finance, 
Uncle Fred led the way to " CUiy's 
Statue." 

As they turned to go, Frank saw 
St Paul's Church, the beautiful spire 
of which he had seen when away 
out of tlie city, on the fortifications. 

'' Now, Frank, you see the ' Mill 
Boy of the Slashes.' What a beau- 
tiful work this is ! 

"^ Henry Clay died on the 29th of 



i,!iiu, mi u 
liiiiii 




WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 53 



June, 1852, aged seventy-five years. 
He was for thirty years prominent 
and greatly influential in all impor- 
tant movements in the country. 

" ' He was one of the most effec- 
tive speakers this country ever pro- 
duced. 

'' ' He was a tall, slender man, 
with a fine voice, remarkable ease 
and power of expression, high ambi- 
tion, full of hope, and dauntless. 

'' ' He was born in Hanover 
County, Virginia, and, as he, when 
a boy, frequently rode to mill, car- 
rying the corn to be ground, got the 
name of " Mill Boy.' " 

" Now, Frank, we must go into the 
Capitol and see what we can there." 

Entering, the first thing which 
meets the eye is the famous statue 
of Washington, by Jean Antoine 

5* 



54 "WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



Houdon, a French sculptor. It was 
made and erected, by order of the 
Virginia Assembly, under the direc- 
tion of Jefferson. 

Frank read the inscription, by 
James Madison, as follows : 

"GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

" The General Assembly of the Com- 
monwealth of Virginia have caused this 
statue to be erected as a monument of 
affection and gratitude to George 
Washington, who, uniting to the en- 
dowments of the hero, the virtues of 
the patriot, and exerting both in estab- 
lishing the liberties of his country, has 
rendered his name dear to his feUow- 
citizens, and given the world an immor- 
tal example of true glory. Done in the 
year of Christ, one thousand seven hun- 
dred and eighty-eight, and in the year 
of the Commonwealth, the twelfth." 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 55 



Near the statue is a marble bust 
of Lafayette, placed there by order 
of tlie Legislature. Here, too, is 
an old stove which deserves notice. 

It was cast by a man named Buz- 
aglo, who was very proud of his 
work. When it was shipped from 
London he wrote to Lord Bottetourt 
under date, August 15th, 1770: 
^' Tlie elegance of workmanship does 
honor to Great Britain. It excels 
in grandeur anything ever seen of 
the kind, and is a master-piece not 
to be equalled in all Europe. It 
has met with general applause, 
and could not be sufficiently ad- 
mired." 

This stove served the State in 
Legislative Halls for sixty years, 
warmed the Rotunda of the Capitol 
about forty years more, and is now 



56 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



laid away as useless. It can be 
seen for visitors who inquire for it. 

After walking through the State 
Library, leisurely, examining some 
curiosities there, Frank and his uncle 
went on top the building, and had a 
splendid view of the whole city. 
Before leaving the building they 
went in the Hall of the House of 
Delegates, where, on the 27th of 
April, 1870, over fifty people were 
killed and hundreds wounded. The 
room immediately over the Hall was 
used for the sessions of the Court 
of Appeals of Virginia. 

Mr. Stevens read from a pamphlet, 
which he had with him, the follow- 
ing account of the catastrophe : — 

" The room of the Court of Appeals was 
the scene of this horrible occurrence. On 
the 16th of March last a new City Council, 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 57. 



appointed by Governor Walker, in per- 
suance of the provisions of an act of the 
General Assembly, known as the 'enabling 
act,' elected Mr. H. K. Ellyson Mayor of 
Kichmond. The constitutionality of the 
said act was contested by the incumbent 
of the Mayorality, Mr. George Gaboon, 
and ultimately the question was brought 
before the Supreme Gourt of Appeals. The 
arguments of counsel had been heard, and 
the Court, as usual, reserved its decision. 
Wednesday, as was generally known, the 
opinion of the Gourt would be pronounced, 
and an immense concourse of anxious spec- 
tators and listeners had gathered to ascer- 
tain the result. Members of the Legisla- 
ture, visitors to the city from all parts of 
our country, members of the bar, repre- 
sentatives of both police forces of the city, 
members of the press, and representatives 
of all classes and conditions of life, were 
assembled. v, 

"The bells had just tolled the hour of 
eleven, and death-like silence reigned, as 
Mr. Starke, the clerk, entered and placed 



58 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

his books on the table. Judges Joynes and 
Anderson were in their seats. Mr. Starke, 
leaning over the railing, was talking with 
them, while the rest of the Judges were in 
the conference room, not quite prepared to 
enter on their day's duties. The counsel 
for Mayor Ellyson, ]\Iessrs. Neeson and 
Meredith, had taken their seats, and were 
ready to proceed to business. Ex-Governor 
Wells and L. H. Chandler, Esq., were also 
in their places, and the reporters of the 
Enquirer, Dispatch, Whig, and State Journal 
were at the desks set apart for their use and 
accommodation. The moments were spent 
in pleasant conversation by the spectators 
present. Various were the speculations as 
to the final result, when, all at once, a 
panel piece of ceiling fell, and then the 
girder gave way with an awful crash, and 
.precipitated the spectators who were in the 
gallery of the court-room to the main floor, 
and the additional weight in one single 
moment's time crushing the court-room 
through. The mass of human beings who 
were in attendance were sent, mingled with 



WALKS ABOUT EICIIMOXD. 59 



the bricks, mortar, splinters, beams, iron 
bars, desks, and chairs, to the floor of the 
House of Delegates, and in a second more, 
fifty-seven souls were launched into eternity. 

"The whole atmosphere was thick with 
a dense cloud of dust from the plastering, 
and the human beings sent up a groan 
which will ring forever in the ears upon 
which it fell. In a moment, a few survi- 
vors clinging to the windows and fragments 
of hanging timber, and the bare and torn 
walls, were all that remained to mark the 
place where, only a moment before, there 
was a scene of life, vigor and hope. 

"The scene which ensued cannot be de- 
scribed. Many of Richmond's most valued 
citizens perished. At least three hundred 
persons were killed or wounded. Every 
effort was made to rescue those buried 
beneath the ruins, and many owe their 
lives to the noble efforts of those who went 
promptly to the rescue. 

" The bells of the city continued to toll 
throughout the day. The whole commu- 
nity was plunged into the deepest sorrow. 



60 WALKS ABOUT KICHMOND. 

All places of business were closed, the 
emblems of mourning were everywhere ; 
and the citizens for several days gave them- 
selves up to the sad duty of burying the 
dead, nursing the wounded, and comforting 
the mourners." 

The Governors residence, near 
the Capitol was then visited, and, it 
being quite late in the evening, Uncle 
Fred concluded they had seen enough 
for one afternoon, and started home. 

" I have not had time, Frank, to 
tell you as much as I would about 
these men and things," said Uncle 
Fred; ^' but when you go home 
you can read more about them." 

Soon two weary walkers were at 
home and at rest. 



"WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 61 



III. 

t^^HE next leisure time Mr, Stevens 
had he took Frank and visited 
. that portion of the city called 
Church Hill — so called because 
at one time the only church in the 
city was situated there. 

On the way he stopped in front 
of a curiously built church on Broad 
Street, called the '' Monumental 
Church." The building is octagonal 
in shape, and is built on the former 
site of the Kichmond Theatre, which 
was destroyed by fire in 1811. The 
church derives its name from the 
monument to the victims of the 

fire, which stands in the front por- 
6 



62 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



tico. On it are inscribed the names 
of some who perished. The Gover- 
nor, and many highly respectable 
citizens, were among those who lost 
their lives. Frank went in and 
read the names on the monument. 

"Are these people buried here, 
uncle ?" 

" Their remains, or the remains 
of some of them, are gathered under 
this monument. You will find a 
very interesting account of the fire, 
and the awful scenes connected with 
it, in 'Howe's Historical Collections.' 
The fire occurred on the night of 
the 26th of December, 1811." 

Coming out into the street again, 
Frank asked his uncle if he intended 
^^ to go up that long hill." 

" Oh, 3^es. Do you see that little 
white steeple rising among the trees ? 



"WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 63 



it is a modern addition to the old 
St. John's Church. I shall go 
directly to that church, and show 
you some curiosities in the grave- 
yard which surrounds it." 

^^ Uncle, is that the church in which 
Patrick Henry made his great 
speech, and said, ' Give me Liberty, 
or give me Death ?' " 

" That is the very house. In 
1799 the Virginia Convention met 
in the church, and among the great 
men who assembled there then, were 
Madison, Marshall, Monroe, Mason, 
and Kandolph." 

Walking slowly up the hill, talk- 
ing as they walked, they soon entered 
the enclosure. Mr. Stevens, thou2:h 
he had often before been there, 
walked about, from place to place, 
trying to decipher tlie names and 



64 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



dates on the old tombstones. The 
place was full of interest to him, 
but Frank confessed he would as 
soon move on as stay. 

"This place looks so old and 
death-like, uncle ; let's go on some- 
where else," he said. 

"Don't hurry, Frank; these old 
inscriptions are very queer, some 
of them, and I am surprised at the 
great age to which some of those 
buried here attained." 

Mr. Stevens would have stopped 
longer, but yielded to Frank, and 
started in the direction of Libby's 
Hill, which overlooks the river, and 
from which may be had a fine view 
of the city and the country on the 
south side of the James. 

Arrived on the hill, Frank saw 
the city laid out before him like 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 65 



a picture. And then he could see 
for miles down the river — see all 
Manchester, the wharves, and the 
bridges. He was delighted with the 
view. 

'' During the war/* says Uucle 
Fred, " when battles were going on 
down the river, hundreds of ladies 
and children would gather here and 
anxiously listen to the booming of 
the huge guns of the fortifications 
and gunboats. Sometimes the in- 
terest would be so great that busi- 
ness would be suspended, and all 
the talk be about the firing. On 
that hill beyond us, lower down the 
river, was an immense hospital, 
called ' Chimborazo.' Thousands of 
sick and wounded died there. Many, 

too, recovered and returned to their 
6* 



66 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 

commands, while others went home 
cripples for life." 

'' Well, uncle, did those men have 
medicine, and good food, while they 
were sick ? " 

'^ No ; not always ; the Govern- 
ment could not get sufficient quanti- 
ties to supply all the hospitals. 

" The citizens visited the hospitals 
constantly, and cheerfully gave all 
their delicacies to the suffering sol- 
diers. Many poor fellows died from 
want and neglect, but many others, 
away from home and friends, were 
nursed as tenderly by Kichmond 
ladies as if they had been their own 
sons. 

'' I was in this hospital, one day, 
looking for a friend of mine, who 
was wounded, and said to be here, 
and, as I passed along through the 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 67 



long rows of beds, I heard some 
one call feebly, ' Fred ! ' I turned 
quickly, and there lay your father, 
terribly wounded. He had been 
brought to Richmond in that condi- 
tion, and, though he had begged to 
be allowed to go to my house, was 
refused, and carried to the hospital. 

*' Fortunately, my leave of absence 
had not expired, and, by begging 
hard and long, I got permission to 
move him to my house. I had the 
satisfaction of seeing him begin to 
improve before I returned to my 
regiment. He w^ould, probably, never 
have recovered, but for this fortunate 
move. 

" If we had time, I w^ould carry 
you out to Oak wood Cemetery, where 
many a soldier sleeps his last sleep. 
The place is more than a mile from 



68 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 



here, though, and we won't have tnne 
to go there. 

" Now, we will run down this 
hill, and take the shortest route to 
the wharves." 

In a few minutes Mr. Stevens and 
Frank stood on the wharves, talking. 

" Here, at the beginning of the 
war," says Uncle Fred, " were two 
iine steamers, which the Government 
seized, and soon converted into gun- 
boats. They were finally sunk in 
the river, near Drewry's Bluff, to 
serve as obstructions to prevent the 
gunboats from passing up the river. 
Their skeletons may be seen there 



now." 



Walking leisurely up the wharves, 
they soon came to the depot of the 
York River Railroad. 

" This road, Frank, runs through 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 69 

the battlefield of * Seven Pines.' 
The Federal army mounted a gun 
right on the track, some eight or 
nine miles below the city, and, to 
fight it, the Confederate officers 
built an ironclad car, on which was 
mounted an immense gun, manned 
by six powerful men. 

'^ A locomotive was placed behind 
the car, and shoved it in range of 
the gun mounted on the track. As 
soon as the men could see each 
other, the firing commenced, and 
continued till one or the other party 
was disabled." 

Just above the depot stands an 
old dingy tobacco factory, which, 
though humble in appearance, is an 
object of interest. 

As Mr. Stevens neared it, he gave 
Frank its history. 



70 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

^^That old building," said he, "is 
"the ^Libby Prison.' During the 
war it was crowded with prisoners, 
and guarded day and night. The 
prisoners were necessarily crowded, 
and, like every body else in the 
Confederacy, lacked some of the 
comforts of life. Theij were often 
fed, however, when the ragged troops 
of the South were suffering the pangs 
of hunger continually. 

" Some of the prisoners managed 
to be happy even in this place, and 
would sing merrily from hour to 
hour. 

"Just above the Libby, on the 
opposite side of the street, stands 
the famous * Castle Thunder.' 

"It is similar in appearance to 
the Libby, and served in the same 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 71 



capacity before the war. Both were, 
and are now, tobacco factories." 

Leaving the Libby, Mr. Stevens 
next went to the Old Stone House, 
which is on Main Street, one block 
from the Libby. It is the oldest 
dwelling in the city, and has twice 
seen it invaded and burned. 

Its massive walls, of irregular 
granite blocks, seem good for another 
century. 

" Uncle," says Frank, " do you 
mean to stop to see this old house ?" 

*' Why, certainly, Frank, it is the 
great antiquity 'of the city. When 
President Monroe, whose tomb you 
saw in Hollywood, was a young 
man attending school in Richmond, 
he boarded with the lady who lived 
in this house. 

"A Mr. Ege lived here during the 



72 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



Kevolutionary War, and, at different 
times, Washington, Jefferson, Lafay- 
ette, Madison, and Patrick Henry, 
were sheltered under his roof." 

The walk up Main Street to 
Fourteenth was very interesting to 
Frank, who was seeing the city for 
the first time. 

Eeturning down Fourteenth, Mr. 
Stevens went across Mayos Bridge 
to Manchester. 

When told by his uncle that the 
bridge on which he crossed had 
more than once been washed away, 
Frank was slow to believe it. He 
could not realize that the river could 
ever be so swollen as to reach the 
top of the stone piers. 

The immense cotton and woollen 
mills in Manchester were quite a 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 73 

sight, and interested Frank very 
much. 

After looking through them, Mr. 
Stevens took Frank out on a hill 
near-by, from Avhich they had 
another fine view of the city. 

As they crossed the bridge, on 
their way back to Richmond, Mr. 
Stevens gave Frank the following 
account of it : 

"The original bridge was built 
soon after Richmond became the 
capital of Virginia. It was washed 
away by a freshet, many years ago, 
but was rebuilt with some improve- 
ments. 

" When Richmond was evacuated, 
in 1865, the bridge was burned, to 
delay the Federal army in its pursuit 
of the retreating columns of General 
Lee, The Federal troops, finding 
7 



74 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 



the bridge destroyed, threw a pon- 
toon, or bridge of boats, across the 
river here, and so crossed. 

"After General Lee's surrender, 
the United States Government 
engineers built the present bridge 
on the old site. As soon as the 
tolls had remunerated the Gover- 
ment, the bridge was turned over to 
the owners of the old structure." 

"Uncle, do you think the rivex 
will ever wash it away again ?" 

" I hope not, Frank, but we can't 
tell. I have several times seen the 
water nearly up to the floor we 
are walking on, and it may some 
day reach it." 

" What large building is that 
rising above all around it ?" 

"It is the Gallego Mill, one of 
the largest in the world. Before 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 75 



the great fire in 1865, Richmond 
could boast the largest flour mill 
in the world. 

" This mill is built on the site 
of an old mill which was burnt 
when the city was evacuated. We 
will go and take a look at the 
mills." 

Turning to the left, when the 
bridge was crossed, they walked 
up a canal bank to HaxalFs Mills, 
situated immediately on the river. 
Going in, they were politely received 
by the superintendent of the manu- 
facturing department, who took 
them all through the mill. He 
said the mills were making from 
a thousand to twelve and sixteen 
hundred barrels of flour every day, 
and if worked to their full capacity, 
could make two thousand barrels. 



76 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

A short distance from the mills 
are the ruins of the great mill of 
the city and prohahly of the world. 

Frank was astonished at the thick- 
ness of the walls, portions of which 
are standing, and the large space 
enclosed by them. Just beyond 
these ruins stands the mill which 
had attracted Frank's attention as 
he crossed the bridge. 

"Tills building," said Mr. Stevens, 
'* was connected with the one be- 
yond, and the two made Warwick 
& Barksdale's Mill. When worked 
to their full capacity, they could 
make from two thousand to twenty- 
five hundred barrels of Hour a day, 
and that the best in the world. 
When returning home at the close 
of the war, as I walked down the 
towpath of the canal, these old 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 77 



ruins were the first thing I recop^- 
nized, and at once satisfied me 
of the rumors I heard on the way. 
I soon saw that nearly all the lower 
part of the city was destroyed. 
These walls, towering up amongst 
the ruins, served as land marks, 
and enabled me to determine how 
much of the city had been burned." 

^' Well, uncle, I am tired, I would 
advise any one going to walk with 
yoit to ride. Suppose we go home." 

''Very well; I suppose we have 
seen enough for one day. If we 
had time I should like to show 
you the machinery of the Gallego 
Mill. Some other time though, you 
might come down here alone, and 
look around." 
7* 



78 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



IV. 



I 



^T WAS probably ten days after 
the last walk, that Frank, after 
an ao;reeable visit to some friends 
in the neighborhood, had seated 
himself for a pleasant time with 
a new book. Night was approach- 
ing, the house was still, and he 
promised himself a quiet hour. 

He was scarcely seated when in 
came his uncle, talking as he came, 
about the "freshet." 

Said he, " The river is rising 
rapidly, and telegrams from Lynch- 
burg warn us to remove all pro- 
perty, liable to injury, which may 
be stored near the river. One man 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 79 

even goes so far as to say the Dan- 
ville Railroad Briclire is in dan2;er. 
Lyiicliburg is already suiTering from 
the ' flood/ as they call it, and the 
bridge across the river there is 
already SAvept away." 

" Well," said Mrs. Stevens, who 
had entered while her husband was 
speaking, " I hope the danger is 
exaggerated, but the merchants 
should prepare fur the worst." 

" Oh, I suppose the people at 
Lynchburg are excited," replied 
Mr. Stevens, " and being themselves 
flooded, think we will be too. I 
have no fears." So the flood was 
soon forgotten, and the evening 
pnssed as pleasantly as though the 
*^ James" was behavinor as usual. 
No sleep was lost in that household, 
though there was trouble coming. 



80 WALKS ABOUT EICIIMOND. 

In the morning Mr. Stevens went 
down town, as usual, expecting to 
hear that the " flood " had subsided. 
He was doomed to disappointment. 
His place of business he found in 
the greatest confusion. Porters and 
hired hands were busily hoisting 
goods from the cellar to the upper 
stories; his bookkeeper was hur- 
riedly moving the books and papers 
from the safe, and everything be- 
tokened the greatest haste. Look- 
ing down into the cellar, Mr. Stevens 
soon discovered the cause of excite- 
ment. The water had nearly filled 
the cellar, and was still rising 
rapidly. He at once went to work, 
and no one worked harder than 
he for the next two hours. By 
the time he had moved all his 
g6ods to the second story, the water 



"VTALKS ABOUT EICIIMOND. 81 

was several inclies deep in the main 
floor, and he found himself wading. 

Leaving the store in charge of 
his clerks, Mr. Stevens hurried 
home to tell the news and get dry 
garments. 

Mrs. Stevens, having finished her 
morning work, was about to com- 
mence sewing, when, very much to 
her surprise, Mr. Stevens entered 
the room' with his clothes soiled 
and wet, huge bundles of papers 
under his arm, and looking alto- 
gether not so neat as she was accus- 
tomed to see him. He soon gave 
satisfactory reasons for his odd 
appearance. 

" The river has overflowed its 
banks," said he ; " my store is 
flooded, and it seems probable that 
we are to have the greatest freshet 



82 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



Richmond has ever known. Crowds 
are hurrying doAvn to the river 
banks, and many predict that Mayo's 
Bridge will be swept away before 
night." 

''' Uncle, are you going down town 
again ?" said Frank ; " I want to see 
the flood." 

" Yes ; immediately. Get your 
hat and go with me." 

The water commenced to rise the 
day before. All through the night 
it continued to rise in the harbor, 
at the rate of not less than a foot 
and a half an hour, and those who 
went to bed flattering themselves 
that in the morning all would be 
right, were doomed to a sad disap- 
pointment. When morning came, 
bright and cloudless though it was, 
the river was swollen to dimensions 



"WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 83 



calculated to fill with dismay the 
hearts of all who dwelt or did busi- 
ness on low lands. The islands in 
the river were overrun with a rapid 
current; the vessels in the dock 
had risen to the level of the wharves ; 
the bridges over the James were 
trembling beneath the blows of the 
drift-w^ood and the beating of the 
waves against their tough timbers ; 
and the report was tliat the water 
^vas slowly finding its w^ay into the 
streets in the lower part of the city. 
Tliere was a little lake on Gary 
Street, and the people of Eocketts 
found the river literally at their 
doors. Still there were those wdio 
said the fresh had reached its high- 
est, and that Richmond was not in 
danger. 

When the first swell came, three 



84 WALKS ABOUT RICIL^EOND. 



men, who evidently had not read 
the warning in the morning papers, 
were fishing in the river at a point 
just opposite Ilaxall's Mills. One 
was on a trap fixing it, the others in 
a boat. The boat was carried away 
by the sudden rush of waters, and 
the fisherman on the trap was left 
high and dry, but with a prospect 
of soon being set afloat in a very 
dangerous current. Plis comrades 
in tlie boat strove to go to his assis- 
tance, but their efforts were ineffec- 
tual, and, presently, deeming delay 
perilous, he doffed his clothes and 
committed himself to the water. 
Being an expert swimmer, he man- 
aged to dodge the rocks, and got 
into smoother water, when he was 
drawn out alive, but almost ex- 
hausted. 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 85 



The drirt-wood brought down was 
mostly dead, but late in the evening 
some good framing timber was no- 
ticed afloat. As long as the charac- 
ter of the floating stuff could be 
discerned, there were no traces of 
the destruction of valuable property 
reported to have taken place up 
towards Lynchburg, and this, taken 
in connection with the generally- 
accepted statement of the rate at 
which the current was travelling, 
led to the belief that the water 
which wrought such serious damage 
had not yet reached Richmond. 

During the whole afternoon might 
be seen parties on either bank of the 
river preparing for the flood by 
removing everything liable to be set 
afloat. Many teams were engaged 
until a very late hour in getting out 



86 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

the tobacco from Mayo's warehouse, 
and placing it at points deemed 
safer. It seemed hardly probable, 
however, that the water would rise 
high enough to move the tobacco 
there stored, as to do so it would 
have to be several feet higher than 
it has been raised by any fresh 
within the memory of persons now 
living. 

The consternation in Rocketts as 
the water began to lap over the 
wharves there afforded an exciting 
spectacle. People removed their 
valuables from exposed places, and, 
generally, made their beds for the 
night about as high up stairs as 
they could well get. Boats were 
held in readiness to convey them to 
town in the morning should the 
street be submerged. 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 87 

Should the present freshet equal 
that of May, 1770, it is likely that 
all the bridges will be swept away, 
and many millions of property be 
destroyed in and out of the city. 
There is a monument at Turkey 
Island, said to be one of the oldest 
in Virginia, which records the devas- 
tations of the great flood. Turkey 
Island is now a part of the main- 
land, but before 1770 it was an 
island. The river, in its rage, lifted 
it beyond its bed, and plastered it 
on the adjacent shore. In the Vir- 
ginia Gazette of that date, there is 
an interesting account from the pen 
of a witness who lived in Richmond. 
Then, indeed, the rains had uninter- 
ruptedly descended for twelve days 
and twelve nights. 

Fortunately, some had heeded the 



88 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 

kind! j-meant warnings received from 
the sufferers on the upper James, 
and made preparations for the flood. 
A good deal of the tobacco had been 
gotten out of Mayo's warehouse 
during the night, but there were 
still hundreds of hogsheads there, 
and some consignees did not seem at 
all alarmed. A few lumber mer- 
chants had taken precautions, one or 
two foundry men had cleared their 
floors, and many people in Rocketts 
were ready to move. As reports 
were received of " still rising," or 
^' no fall," many more began to get 
ready for an overflow, and, at about 
10 o'clock, the whole of the lower 
part of the city was in a state of 
excitement. The water had now 
risen nearly up to the eaves of the 
steamboat sheds at Rocketts, and 



WALKS ABOUT KICHMOND. 89 



Gillie's Creek had overflown its 
banks. Up town, also, matters 
looked serious. From Gary Street 
the water passed over to Main, filling 
Seventeenth Street as it came along, 
and, almost without a moment's 
warning, the butchers and hucksters 
at the Old Market found their feet 
getting wet. The merchants and 
shop-keepers tried to get their stocks 
out of the way of the flood, but, 
although they worked manfully, and 
were assisted, they were only par- 
tially successful. 

Driven from their stalls at the 
market-house, the butchers made a 
very orderly retreat to higher ground, 
and soon the scene of their opera- 
tions was transferred from Seven- 
teenth Street to Eighteenth, and 

both sides of Main, between Eight- 
s' 



90 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



eenth and Nineteenth, while the 
vendors of vegetables sandwiched 
themselves between butchers wher- 
ever they found an opening. It was 
rather curious to see sweet potatoes 
and cabbages displayed before an 
undertaker's door, and roasts, soup- 
pieces, and steaks, adorning the outer 
walls of a dry-goods house. 

Meantime the water was still 
rising on Main Street, and ladies 
travelling from one hill to the other, 
were under the necessity of standing 
up on the benches to keep from 
getting wet. At 12 o'clock the cars 
could no longer go across, the water 
being deep enough to swim a horse. 
The cars on either side of the stream, 
however, continued to run to the 
waters edge during the whole day. 

When Frank and his uncle arrived 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 91 



at Mayo's Bridge, the river was filled 
with drifting stuff. There came along 
logs, mill timber, hay-stacks, trunks, 
barrels, boxes, pieces of fencing, 
chairs, tables, benches, gates, wagon- 
bodies, harness, pumpkins and water- 
melons, agricultural implements, 
bouixhs of trees, and two or three 
whole roofs of houses. On one of 
the latter, a poor half-drowned rat 
was scampering about wildly, much 
to the delight of the spectators. 
Luckily, most of the debris follow- 
ing the track of the swiftest part of 
the current was carried right under 
the bridge, but other pieces were 
driven against the abutments with 
terrible force, and as at the same 
time the water rose rapidly, it was 
evident at about noon that the bridge 
must go. At quarter-past 12 o'clock 



92 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

the part over Manchester Creek 
parted company with the rest, and 
it was followed in a few minutes by 
all that part of the bridge, two or 
three hundred yards in length, on 
the south side of the island. 

The precautions taken by the 
police authorities were so effective, 
that, notwithstanding the great anx- 
iety of the crowd to expose them- 
selves to the danger of being washed 
away, nobody was on any part of 
the bridge when it floated off. 

All eyes were now turned toward 
the Danville bridge, and it hardly 
seemed possible that it could long 
withstand the rising current. The 
tide crept up to the very floor of the 
massive structure, and the drift-wood 
was fiercely hurled against it with- 
out intermission for hours, but the 



WALKS ABOUT PJCHMOND. 93 



bridge remained unshaken to the 
very last. 

The Petersburg KaHroad bridge 
was never thought to be in danger. 
Trains ran over it when the water 
was doing its worst, and the passen- 
gers, knowing its condition, felt as 
safe as on dry land. 

The bridge gone, the next pLace 
of interest was Rocketts. The river, 
rising above the wharves, spread 
itself over whole blocks, and an idea 
of the height of the fresh may be ob- 
tained from the statement that only 
the peaks of the roof of the steam- 
boat sheds were visible. The James 
River Steamboat Company's sheds 
were swept away quite early in the 
action, and, after bumping against 
several houses, and knocking down 
a street lamp, departed in pieces. 



94 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



The people in dwelling-houses, vainly 
hoping that the flood would soon 
subside, were driven from floor to 
floor, until, finally, they and their 
furniture had to be taken out of the 
garret windows, and carried away in 
boats to the houses of hospitable 
neighbors. 

Desiring to go to Eocketts, and 
not caring to go by water, the short- 
est route was by way of Oak wood 
Cemetery, Blakey's Mill, and Wick- 
ersville. 

As the river rose, the back-water 
gradually made its way up Shocko 
Creek, until it obtained a consider- 
able height above the keystone of 
the diflerent arches spanning the 
stream at the street crossin2:s. The 
bridge in the rear of the Lancasterian 
School-house was carried away, and 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 95 

the houses on both sides of the creek, 
as far up as the foot of President 
Hill, consisting mostly of small 
framed dwellings, were inundated. 
Some of their inhabitants moved to 
the upper stories, but the greater 
number, with all their worldly goods, 
abandoned their homes and struck 
for a higher position. 

After a wearisome walk around 
the flooded district, Mr. Stevens 
and Frank went home hungry and 
worn out. Mr. Stevens, knowing he 
had done all he could to save his 
goods, gave himself no further trou- 
ble about business, and spent the 
remainder of the day at home, 
recounting the many interesting 
incidents of the flood. 

The water was at its height at 
ten o'clock on Saturday night. There 



96 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



was no perceptible rise after that 
hour, and at about midnight there 
were many evidences of a fall. It 
continued *to decline during the 
night, and at ten o'clock in the 
morning had fallen four feet. At 
noon the water was about as high 
as it was at the same time on Satur- 
day. Thereafter the fall was very 
rapid, and last night vehicles could 
pass without any difficulty, and 
pedestrians could wade anywhere 
on the parts of Main and Franklin 
Streets that had been flooded. The 
river was not entirely confined to 
its limits, and was indeed higher 
than it is in an ordinary fresh. 

The highest point reached by the 
water was twenty-four feet and one- 
eighth of an inch above high tide 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 97 

at Eocketts, by actual measure- 
ment. 

Frank sat up till late in the 
night, hoping to hear of the falling 
of the water, but no such news 
came, and he had to sleep without 
it. The next morning, which was 
Sundaj^, his uncle, who had been 
down town very early, and returned, 
gave him the good news that the 
water had subsided, and the worst 
was over. 



98 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



V. 



^R. STEVENS being an enthu- 
siastic Sunday-school teacher, 
^ the Sunday breakfast was ear- 
lier than usualj in order that 
he might be in his place in the 
school at the appointed time for 
opening. 

This morning Frank accompanied 
him, and took a seat in his class 
during the session of the school. 
Virginia also went with them, and 
took her place on the side of the 
school room devoted to the female 
scholars. 

At the close of the school all 
went up into the church to preach- 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 99 



ing. The large congregation, the 
fine music of the organ, and the 
beauty of the audience room were 
all novel and pleasant to Frank. 

After a good sermon, the congre- 
gation dispersed to their homes, 
to discuss the sermon, and enjoy 
the rest of the Sabbath. In the 
afternoon, Mr. Stevens went out 
to visit a sick friend. Frank and 
Virginia walked out to one of the 
flower gardens at the upper end 
of the street on which they lived. 

There they saw in full bloom 
sweet clematis, jessamine, dahlias, 
and other beautiful flowers in almost 
endless variety. 

When they reached home after 
their walk tea was ready and wait- 
ing. 

After tea, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, 



100 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



Frank, and his cousin all went 
to church again, and so the day 
closed. 

During the week following, Mr. 
Stevens was very busy cleaning 
away the mud deposited in his store 
by the flood, and rearranging his 
scattered books and papers. So 
he had no time to give to Frank's 
amusement or instruction. 

Mrs. Stevens, however, took him 
in charge, and soon procured lor 
him a guide, willing and capable 
enough to show him around the 
city. Ned Carter was almost proud 
of his responsibility, as one bright 
morning he started out with Frank 
for a ramble about the streets. 

" Where shall we go first, Ned?" 

" Oh, anywhere ; suppose we go 
down and take a look at the house 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 101 



whicli was General Lee's residence 
during the war ?" 

*'That is one place I certainly 
want to see," replied Frank, and 
off they started. 

In a few minutes they stood 
at a corner near the house. 

" There is the house, Frank." 

"Which one?" 

" That one in the centre of the 
block which is separated from those 
on each side." 

" Well, Ned, why are there no 
houses here at this corner ?" 

*^ There was a church on this 
corner, which was burnt at the 
time of the evacuation, and the 
lot has not been built up yet. It 
was the only church burnt at that 
time." 

9* 



102 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



"What is that large building 
down on the corner of Main Street?" 

"It is the Spotswood Hotel. 
When Jefferson Davis was brought 
to Eichniond to be tried before the 
United States Court he was fur- 
nished rooms in that hotel. 

" Would you like to see the ruins 
of the Confederate War Department 
offices ? they are not fiir from here." 

"Yes, I want to see everything 
which has any connection with the 
history of the war." Ned soon had 
Frank looking at a large lot filled 
with bricks and rubbish. 

"Here," said he, "stood the ^Me- 
chanics' Institute' building, which, 
during the war, served as offices 
for the War Department. In this 
building, too, the Virginia Conven- 
tion met to discuss the propriety 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 103 



of seceding from the Union. I 
can remember hearing some of the 
speeches which were made at the 
time. 

"Now we will go down to the 
Post Office." 

"Where is it, Ned?" 

" Just a square from here ; come 
on." 

"In this building," said Ned, 
when they arrived at the Custom 
House or Post Offiice, " President 
Davis had his office during the war. 
The lower story was occupied by 
the Confederate Treasury Depart- 
ment, and from this place huge 
bundles and boxes of treasury notes 
were shipped to the army to pay 
the soldiers, and to the officers 
of the Government in other cities." 



104 WALKS ABOUT KICHMOND. 

"Was this building put up by 
the Confederate Government?" 

" Oh, no ; the United States Gov- 
ernment built it before the war 
for a Custom House and Post 
Office." 

Ned next led the way to the 
old market house on Main Street. 

" I brought you here," says Ned, 
" to show you how high the water 
was during the freshet; you see 
the mark is higher than you can 
reach. The people of Kichmond 
have been buying their marketing 
on this spot for more than eighty 
years. I have read in a book we 
have at home, that eighty years 
ago there was only a wooden shed 
here, and all this part of Main 
Street was a green pasture." 

The boys now decided to take 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 105 



the next horse-car, and ride out to 
the " Reservoir." Ned stopped the 
car, they jumped in, and, in fifteen 
minutes, alighted at the terminus 
of the road, and within a stone's 
throw of the entrance to the en- 
closure of the Reservoir. 

Ned hammered away at the gate 
with his fists until the watchman 
opened it, and enquired his busi- 
ness. 

"I have a friend here," said he, 
"who has never seen the Reservoir; 
and if you would let us in, and show 
us what is to be seen, we would be 
very much obliged to you." 

"Well, I reckon I must let you 
in, though we don't often allow boys 
to come in; they are so mischiev- 



ous. 



The watchman very kindly ex- 



106 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



plained everything of interest to the 
boys, and, when they left, invited 
them to come again when they felt 
disposed. 

From the Eeservoir Ned took 
Frank to " Camp Lee," where sol- 
diers were drilled and equipped 
before going into active service. 

'' Were all the soldiers of the Con- 
federate army drilled here, Ned?" 
asked Frank. 

" No, indeed. When the war first 
commenced, thousands volunteered, 
and, being very anxious to be good 
soldiers, soon learned enough to 
make themselves reliable in the 
field. But there were some who 
only went into the army when 
forced to go. 

' These were called ^ Conscripts,' 
and were sent here to be drilled and 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 107 



kept safely until they could be sent 
to the field." 

It was now near dinner time, so 
the boys commenced their journey 
homeward, only stopping on their 
way to peep into the theatre. 

*' Have you ever seen a play, 
Ned r asked Frank. 

" No. Father says the theatre is 
no place for boys, and he would 
never let me go to see a play." 

* Don't you want to see one very 
much r 

" No, not much. Father knows 
best about such things. I have 
made up my mind never to go to 
the theatre." 

Thus talking, the boys soon 
reached Mr. Stevens' house, where 
they parted, after making an ap- 



108 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 

pointment to continue their walk in 
the afternoon. 

As the boys dined about the same 
hour, they were soon together again, 
and on their way to the Medical 
College. 

Ned Carter had a cousin who was 
a student at the college, and had 
told Ned he would show him the 
museum and the dissecting room, 
any time he felt disposed to see 
them. 

When the boys arrived at the 
college, Ned enquired for Mr. Hood, 
his cousin, who soon appeared, wel- 
comed them, and immediately took 
them up to the dissecting room 

In the room were several long, 
narrow tables, surrounded by small 
gutters, to carry off the blood or other 
fluids which might flow from the 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 109 

^* subjects," as Mr. Hood called them. 
On three of the tables, bodies, partly 
nude, were lying awaiting the plea- 
sure of the students. 

Immediately on entering the room, 
Frank noticed a strange odor which 
pervaded the atmosphere, and hardly 
dared draw a full breath. At first 
he felt afraid and uneasy, but soon 
several students entered the room, 
and their lively conversation and 
easy manners somewhat reassured 
him. 

" Why, Hood," says one, " when 
did these subjects arrive ?" 

" Last night ; they seem to be all 
right. Are you going to work now ?" 

*' Yes. Hand me my apron, will 
you, please ?" 

This gentleman, having fastened 
his apron securely, uncovered one 

10 



110 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



of the bodies, fixed an open book 
before him, using the head of his 
subject to lean it against, and, to 
Frank's utter astonishment, com- 
menced slowly to open -the arm of 
the body. In a few minutes other 
students arrived, with books under 
their arms, and, after robing them- 
selves in their gowns, as the first 
had done, attacked the other bodies. 
There sat the students, all busily 
encjaofed, either with knife in hand 
or referring from time to time to 
their books, enlivening their studies 
with pleasant, and even witty con- 
versation. Ahnost unconsciously 
Ned and Frank were becoming 
interested in what was at first so 
revolting, and, as the work pro- 
gressed, they watched every move- 
ment with keen interest. They 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. Ill 



came out wiser than they went in, 
having seen, for the first time, some 
marvellous beauties. 

Frank, while he appreciated the 
beauty of the mechanism of the 
body, and the importance of a 
thorough knowledge of its construc- 
tion to those intending to become 
physicians, felt more than anything 
else that he had seen one more 
proof of the littleness of man, and 
the certainty of death. 

He left the dissecting room in a 
thoughtful, serious mood. 

Mr„ Hood next carried the boys 
through the museum, and showed 
them many beautiful and wonderful 
things, pointing out, as opportunity 
offered, the vital and more import- 
ant organs of the body. 

Among other things, Frank saw, 



112 T\\\LKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



for the first time, a human skeleton, 
the parts of which were fastened in 
the proper places, so that it stood 
upright, and seemed almost able to 
walk. He also looked into a little 
closet full of bones, w^iich Mr. Hood 
said were laid away in order that 
the students, when they became 
graduates, might each have, for 
study, a human skeleton. 

Having seen all the interesting 
and instructive articles in the mu- 
seum, and other rooms of the college, 
bidding Mr.^ Hood farewell, the boys 
continued their walk. 

" What old brick house is that on 
the corner, Ned T 

" We call that the First African 
Baptist Church. Years ago, the 
white people worshipped there, but 
when the new church was built, a 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 113 



square higher up the street, this 
old one was given to the colored 
people. 

" It is probably the largest church 
of the kind in this country, in num- 
bers. 

" I have heard that it has about 
two thousand members, who, of 
course, are all negroes. 

" The pastor of the church is a 
colored man who was raised in 
Richmond." 

As they went up Broad Street, 
they stopped a short ^hile at the 
Monumental Church, a history of 
which Frank had already heard 
from Mr. Stevens. 

" What church is this ?" . asked 
Frank, as they reached the top of 
the hill. 

''The First Baptist," answered 

10* 



114 TTALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



Ned, "which wrs built by the 
people who used to worship in the 
old church we saw just now, and 
which the colored people now use. 

"Just before us, j^ou see, are two 
more churches, one on either side of 
the street • ' Methodist/ and ' Pres- 
byterian.' 

" Around the corner here is a 
' Disciples' ' church. You remember 
St. Paul's and St. Peter's are only a 
short distance ahead, so we have 
churches of six different denomina- 
tions, all within a few steps of the 
Washington Monument." 

As they passed up Broad Street, 
Ned pointed out an old house in 
which Chief Justice Marshall once 
lived. Frank remembered having 
seen Marshall's statue on the monu- 
ment, and was very much interested 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 115 



in looking at the home of the great 
Judge. 

" The street next to this, on which 
that house stands," said Ned, " was 
named ' Marshall/ in honor of the 
Judge. 

" Let's go this way, Frank, and 
see St. Paul's Church as we go. You 
know President Davis used to attend 
service there regularly during the 
winter, and, besides, it is the hand- 
somest church in the city." 

" Ned, what little house is that 
behind St. Paul's Church, which 
looks something like a miniature of 
it?" 

"Why, a man mends umbrellas 
there, now, but it was built by 
Bushrod Washington, a nephew of 
George Washington, for a law office. 
Bushrod Washinsfton was an eminent 



116 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



lawyer, and was one of the justices 
of the Supreme Court. 

" Suppose we now go to see the 
Petersburg Bridge ?" 

"Very well," says Frank; "lead 
the way." 

Soon the boys stood at the end 
of the bridge, admiring the scenery 
of the river and islands, and talking 
furiously. 

" When was this bridge built, 
Ned?" 

" Since the war. The old bridge 
was burnt when the city was evacu- 
ated. 

*' Down on that island there was 
a large cartridge manufactory, in 
which a large number of females 
were employed by the Government. 

''One day, during the war, the 
powder, which one of the hands had 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 117 



piled up before him on his work- 
bench, ignited, and a terrible explo- 
sion followed. 

" Several persons were killed, and 
a number of the girls and women 
were horribly burned." 

" What old walls are these ?" 

" They are the walls of the old 
Franklin Paper Mill." 

" Where does this curved branch 
of the railroad lead to ?" 

'* That is the ' Connection Koad/ 
which connects the Richmond and 
Petersburg with the Fredericksburg 
Railroad. It passes through a tun- 
nel under Gamble's Hill. Would 
you like to go and see the tunnel, 
and take a view from the hill ? 
Come on. 

" Those large buildings below us, 
near the river, are tobacco factories. 



118 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



If you get a chance, you had better 
go in one, and see the process of 
manufiicturing tobacco." 

They crossed the bridge over the 
canal at the Armory, and soon 
mounted the hill, from which they 
had quite an extensive view. The 
Capitol, the Monument, and the 
church spires rose up above every- 
thing in the city. The lower part 
of the city, and the wharves lined 
with vessels, the bridges, and the 
falls of the river, all lay out before 
them, visible at a distance. Here, 
too, they had a good view of Man- 
chester, with its large mills. 

" There," said Ned, " is the Peni- 
tentiary, where criminals from all 
parts of the State are confined. It 
is called, in fun, the ' White House.' " 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 119 



"Are there any prisoners there, 
now r 

" Oh, yes ; so many, that the place 
is thought to be too small. I suppose 
there are five or six hundred prison- 
ers there." 

Next the boys went to the tunnel 
under the hill, and, by permission 
of the watchman, wallced through it, 
much to Frank's delight. 

They then went up to the Peni- 
tentiary, and, fortunately, found a 
party of ladies and gentlemen wait- 
ing to be shown through the Institu- 
tion, who, noticing their desire to 
see, asked the superintendent to 
allow the boys to accompany them. 
He readily consented, and, under 
the guidance of one of the guards, 
the party went into the inner en- 
closure. 



120 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

Some of the prisoners were draw- 
ing water from the well and carrying 
it to the cells, others splitting and 
sawing wood, while many sat about 
reading, and otherwise amusing 
themselves. 

In the workshops all were hard 
at work. In one shop they were 
making wagons, carts, wheelbarrows, 
brooms, etc., and in another shoes. 
Many men go to the Penitentiary, 
having no knowledge of a trade by 
which to make a living, and come 
away good mechanics, able and will- 
ing to earn, instead of stealing their 
bread. 

Frank sincerely pitied the poor 
prisoners, and would gladly have 
spoken some word of sympathy 
as he passed them, but he felt, 
somewhat, the novelty of his first 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 121 



prison visit, and could not raise 
the courage necessary to open a 
conversation with one of them. 

The guard who accompanied the 
party explained the apparent free- 
dom of the prisoners. Said he, 
" We find it better to employ the 
men than to keep them closely 
confined. If they are shut up they 
become melancholy and hardened, 
and do not improve at all. But 
if given proper employment for 
mind and body they keep cheerful 
and healthy, learn how pleasant 
labor is, and commence here in 
the prison the life of honest labor 
for which they are sent here to 
prepare." 

By the time they had completed 
the rounds it was growing dark, 
and Ned thought best to start 
11 



122 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

home, so, having thanked the guard 
for his kindness, and said good 
evening to the gentlemen and Ladies, 
they turned their faces homeward. 

Frank, having gotten permission 
from his aunt to do so, spent the 
evening with his friend. 

After tea they spent several hours 
very pleasantly together, talking 
over what they had seen during 
the day, and making plans for other 
excursions. 

The next morning, immediately 
after breakfast, Frank hurried home 
and gave his aunt a full, and quite 
an interesting account of his tramp 
with Ned. 



WALKS ABOUT TxICHMOND. 123 



VI. 



CTOBER had come. The fall- 
ing leaves were preaching decay 
and death. 

The weather was still plea- 
sant, but at night the air was chilly, 
and made it pleasant and cozy 
indoors. As Frank was soon to 
leave for home, Mr. Stevens and 
his fiimily were gathered in the 
sitting-room to enjoy, as it were, 
a farewell talk with him. 

Frank opened the conversation 
with " Uncle, how much of Rich- 
mond was burned at the time of 
the evacuation ?" 

" Nearly all that portion of the 



124 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 



city in which the wholesale and 
principal retail stores were located. 
On Main Street the fire extended 
from Eighth to Fourteenth Streets. 
On Gary Street from Ninth to Fif- 
teenth Street. Between Carey Street 
and the river nearly everything was 
burned, from Fifteenth Street up to 
Seventh. Besides many buildings 
away up near the Armory, and 
several blocks on Franklin and 
Bank Streets near the Capitol 
Square." 

'* Well, uncle, how did the fire 
commence ? Was it intended ?" 

" No, the Government buildings 
containing provisions and clothing, 
the tobacco warehouses, and the 
laboratories for the manufacture 
of ammunition were fired to prevent 
their contents from falling into the 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 125 

hands of the Federal Army, and 
from these the fire extended to 
other buildings, and, continuing 
to spread, became unmanageable. 

" No one, probably, intended to 
burn the city, though some wished 
to do so. 

*^ Those who were in the city 
say the explosion of shells and 
other ammunition in the labora- 
tories was constant and terrific." 

" What stopped the fire, uncle ?" 

^^When the troops marched into 

the city, and saw that it was in 

danger of being destroyed, they 

at once went to work, assisted by 

the negroes and citizens, to subdue 

the flames. The exertions of the 

soldiers and citizens, and probably 

a fortunate change in the direction 

of the wind, kept the fire in bounds, 
11* 



126 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

and saved the greater portion of the 
city." 

" Was Richmond ever burned 
before, uncle?" 

" Yes, a long, long time ago. In 
the year 1781 the traitor Arnold 
attacked the town and burned the 
public, and some private, buildings." 

" Was there no one to oppose the 
British troops ?" 

" Only about two hundred militia. 
The force of Arnold numbered eight 
hundred or one thousand men. 

" Before the enemy arrived at the 
town, several citizens waited on 
Governor Jefferson, and tendered 
an offer from Arnold to spare the 
town provided he was allowed to 
bring his vessels to the wharf and 
carry away all the tobacco stored 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 127 

there. This offer the Governor in- 
dignantly refused. 

" Of course when the large British 
force advanced, there was but one 
course to be pursued. The militia 
withdrew from the town and left 
it in the hands of the invader. 

" The lady who lived in the old 
Stone House, which you have had 
pointed out to you, saw the British 
troops gallop down the hill. One 
of the British officers quartered in 
her house." 

" Is Kichmond a very old place, 
uncle ?" 

" Not so old as some other towns, 
but old enough. In the year 1609, 
a man named West was sent from 
Jamestown up to the Falls to pro- 
cure food and found only acorns. 

" In 1644 the Assembly of Yir- 



128 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



ginia ordered a fort to be built 
at the falls of the James Kiver, 
and called it ' fForte Charles.' " 

" Richmond was made a town by 
law, in May, 1742, during the reign 
of George III. In May, 1779, an 
Act was passed, removing the Capi- 
tal from Williamsburg to Richmond. 
At the time this change was made, 
Richmond was scarcely worthy of 
the name of city. Paulding describes 
the inhabitants as ' a race of most 
ancient and respectable planters, 
having estates in the country, who 
chose it for their residence for the 
sake of social enjoyment. They 
formed a society now seldom to be 
met with in any of our cities. A 
society of people not exclusively 
monopolized by money-making pur- 
suits, but of liberal education, liberal 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 129 



habits of thinking and acting, and 
possessing both leisure and inclina- 
tion to cultivate those feelings, and 
pursue those objects which exalt our 
nature rather than increase our for- 
tune.' Richmond became a city in 
1782." 

"Uncle, why did any one ever 
settle in Manchester, when Rich- 
mond was so much the prettiest 
pUice?" 

" Probably the water power at- 
tracted those who wished to build 
mills, the mills attracted the mer- 
chants, and so the town grew. Most 
ot the large merchants resided and 
did business in Manchester. At one 
time it was thought that Manchester 
would rival Richmond. Patrick 
Henry saved Richmond. When the 
engineers reported that the best 



130 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



route for the canal was on the south 
side of the river, and that it would 
enter Manchester, the wealthy mer- 
chants there became alarmed, lest 
such an improvement should attract 
too many merchants, divide the 
trade, and so lessen their profits. 

" They accordingly employed Pa- 
trick Henry to oppose the south 
side route, and advocate the north 
side as the best route, and Richmond 
as the best terminus. 

*' Patrick Henry succeeded, the 
canal was built on the Richmond 
side, and from that time Manchester 
grew less important as compared 
with Richmond. 

" Many Manchester merchants 
moved to Richmond to be near and 
enjoy the benefits which all expected 
from the canal." n 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



" Why did they expect so much 
from the canal ?" 

" There were no railroads, you 
know, up to that time, and the only 
method of transportation was by 
wagons. 

" The country people brought their 
produce to market in immense 
wagons, drawn by six and sometimes 
more horses, ornamented with strings 
of jingling bells. There were seve- 
ral vacant lots about the city on 
which these people camped, cooking 
the provisions they brought with 
them, and sleeping under their wagon 
covers. Now, they send their pro- 
duce by the freight train, bring 
themselves in the elegant coaches 
of the ^ Mail,' and stop at the fine 
hotels." 

Mr. Stevens had just finished 



132 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



speaking when a neighbor stepped 
into the room, greeted them, and 
asked if they had heard the sad 
news. 

" Sad news," said Mr. Stevens ; 
" what has happened ?" 

"Yes, sad indeed. I have just 
read on the bulletin board that 
General Lee is dead !" 

At this announcement all were 
silent. 

Presently Mr. Stevens asked if 
there were any particulars. 

'^ Only a brief telegram. I will 
read it as I copied it from the bulle- 
tin board: 

" ' Lexington, Oct. 12th, 10 A.M. 
, ^'Editors of the Dispatch : 

" * General Lee died this morning at half- 
past nine o'clock. He began to grow worse 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 133 

on Monday, and continued to sink, until lie 
breathed his last this morning. 

" ' He died, as he lived, calmly and qui- 
etly, and in the full assurance of faith in the 
Lord Jesus Christ. 

" ' The places of business are all closed, 
the bells are tolling, and the whole commu- 
nity thrown into the deepest grief.' " 

"Words could not express the sor- 
row of Mr. Stevens. He now began 
to realize that his dear chieftam was 
no more. 

Unfit for further conversation, he 
retired to his room. 

Frank, too, was deeply moved, 
and, after vainly trying to rid him- 
self of the oppression he felt, went 
to his room and gave himself up to 
sleep. 

Mrs. Stevens and her daughter 
having seen their neighbor to the 

12 



134 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

door, followed his example, and soon 
the house was in darkness. 

Mr. Stevens was up early in the 
morning, waiting the coming of the 
carrier, who had scarcely dropped 
the paper, when Mr. Stevens seized 
it. 

He soon read enough to convince 
him that the sad news of the evening 
before was all too true. 

After the usual morning devo- 
tions, all the family being gathered 
about him, he read from the Dls- 
jpatcli, as follows: 

" Robert Edward Lee was born at Strrtt- 
ford, January 19th, 1807. 

" His family has been distinguished in 
Virginia for two hundred years. Two of 
his grand-uncles. were signers of the Decla- 
ration of Independence. His father was 
the famous * Light Horse Harry ' of revolu- 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 135 



tionary fame, who served in the Federal 
Congress, and as Governor of Virginia. 
Kobert E. Lee was of the issue of a second 
marriage, the second son of Henry Lee and 
his wife Anne, daugliter of Charles Carter, 
of Shirley. As, however, he borrows no 
greatness from his ancestry, but was him- 
self the ' greatest of a great line,' we shall 
say no more as to his family. 

" Eobert E. Lee entered West Point Aca- 
demy in 1825, and graduated at the end of 
the usual term without having had a demerit 
mark. In 1829, he was appointed brevet 
second lieutenant, and assigned to the corps 
of topographical engineers. He served for 
several years in this corps. In 1832, he was 
married to Miss Custis, the daughter of 
George Washington Parke Custis, the 
adopted son of General Washington. In 
1836, he was rn^ade first lieutenant, and in 
1838, captain. During the Mexican war he 
was on the staff, first of General Wool and 
then General Scott, as chief engineer. At 
the battle of Cerro Gordo, April 18, 1847, 
he was bre vetted major for gallantry. At 



136 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

Chapiiltepec he was wounded, September 
13, 1847, and was bre vetted lieutenant- 
colonel. 

" General Scott repeatedly spoke of him 
in his despatches as remarkable for his 
gallantry. Colonel Lee was next appointed 
a member of the Board of Engineers. In 
1852, he became superintendent of West 
Point Academy. In 1855, he was assigned 
to service in a cavalry regiment, which took 
him to the West. In 1859, he was sent to 
Harper's Ferry to put down the John Brown 
raid. March 16, 1861, he was made colonel 
of cavalry in the United States army. His 
resignation of his office in that army was 
dated April 20, 1861. 

"Early in 1861, the Convention of Vir- 
ginia selected General Lee as commander- 
in-chief of the forces of this State, her for- 
tunes not having at the time been formally 
united with those of her Southern sisters. 
When the State joined the Confederacy he 
became a Confederate officer. After the 
defeat of General Garnett by McClellan, 
and his subsequent death. General Lee was 



WALKS ABOUT RICmMOND. 137 

sent to Northwest Virginia. He was re- 
called by Mr. Davis, and, on account of his 
great skill as an engineer, he was sent to 
examine the defences on the Atlantic coast. 
In May, 1862, McClellan marched up the 
peninsula of Virginia, and the battle of 
Seven Pines, in which General Joseph E. 
Johnston was wounded, having been fought 
a few miles below Richmond, General Lee 
was put in command of the Confederate 
forces. 

"Soon followed the great battles before 
Richmond, from Mechanicsville to Malveru 
Hill, in which General Lee's name became 
famous the world over. From this time forth 
the hopes of the people of the South were 
centred in General Lee. The whole army was 
placed in his hands. He it was that ordered 
all its movements, and was entitled to the 
credit for the strategy employed. He or- 
dered the movements which resulted in the 
famous battles of the following August ; 
Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, &c. On 
the 3d of September, his army crossed the 
Potomac, and on the 17th was fought the 
12* 



138 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



grand battle of Sharpsburg. General Lee 
always claimed this as a victory. 

"On the 13th of December, 1862, oc- 
curred the battle of Fredericksburg, one of 
the most complete successes of the war. In 
1863, May 2d, the battle of the Wilderness 
was fought. The success here, too, was com- 
plete, but Jackson fell. Here, too. General 
Lee showed the greatness of his heart in 
that celebrated letter to the dying chieftain, 
in which he said that for his country's sake 
he could wish it had been himself instead 
of Jackson that had been wounded. On the 
4th of May, the battle was renewed, and re- 
sulted in the defeat of the Federal army, 
and its retreat. This was called the battle 
of Chancellorsville. 

" General Lee again marched Northwards. 
He went into Pennsylvania with his little 
army, and there, on the 2d and 3d of July 
1863, fought the bloody battles which, though 
rather drawn battles than victories for 
either side, much more seriously damaged 
that army whose losses could not be re- 
paired. 



"WALKS ABOUT KICIIMOND. 139 



"And, as his nobility of soul was shown 
at the ' Wilderness,' in the hour of victory, 
in assigning to Stonewall Jackson the credit 
for success, so here it was equally shown, in 
taking upon himself the blame for his want 
of success at Gettysburg. 

In May, 1864, occurred the battles of the 
Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court-house, &c., 
&c. General Grant was constantly repulsed, 
but as constantly renewed his flank move- 
ment, until he lauded upon the banks of the 
James. There were many battles, of more 
or less importance, during 1864, and the 
beginning of 1865. April 2d, 1865, occurred 
the evacuation of Richmond, and began the 
retreat of General Lee's army from Peters- 
burg. April 9, he surrendered a skeleton 
of an army to overwhelming numbers. And 
thus ended his military career. 

"On the 28th of September, 1865, Gene- 
ral Lee was made President of Washington 
College. His name and fame soon made 
that a popular institution. He continued 
to hold the position' until his death. 

" And now what shall we say of this peer- 



140 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

less man? Language fails us. Of liim, as 
truly as of that other illustrious one whom 
he so much resembled, might it be said : 
* He was first in war, first in peace, and first 
in the hearts of his countrymen.' He was- 
a true hero. There was nothing common 
about him. As noble in soul as he was per- 
fect in physique, he was one of those grand 
characters in which all the elements com- 
bine * to give the world assurance of a 



The 13th of October, 1870, was a 
day of mourning in Richmond, and 
the busiest streets were almost 
deserted. 

After ten o'clock in the morning 
nearly all the stores on Main, Broad, 
and Gary Streets were closed, and 
upon the doors appeared badges of 
mourning, accompanied usually by 
the simple inscription: "Closed in 
consequence of the death of General 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 141 



Eobert E. Lee." A photograph of 
the departed hero draped in crape 
frequently accompanied the card, 
and in many windows were to be 
seen faithful portraits handsomely 
framed and hung with black. Many 
private residences also were draped 
with mourning emblems, intertwined 
with wreaths of laurel and cypress. 
The public offices of the State 
Government were closed all day, 
and the bells at the Capitol Square 
bell house, and the police stations, 
were tolled from sunrise until sunset. 
The United States and Virginia flags 
on the Capitol were displayed at 
half-mast, and the same token of 
grief was made by the shipping in 
the harbor. The whole community 
was prostrate beneath the dispensa- 



142 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

tion of Providence, so painful, but so 
hard to realize. 

During the day Frank and his 
uncle walked from place to place, 
hoping to hear that General Lee's 
remains would be brought to Rich- 
mond for interment. 

They soon learned that it had 
been determined to deposit the 
remains in a vault under the chapel 
at Washington College. Returning 
home, they spent the remainder of 
the day poring over the papers, 
which were crowded with eulogies 
of the fallen hero. 

Mr. Stevens selected and read 
from the papers before him such 
articles as he thought most appro- 
priate. Again referring to the col- 
umns of tlie Dispatch, he read as 
follows : 



WALKS ABOUT KICHMOND. 143 

"Your correspondent lias taken especial 
pains to obtain from his physicians (Drs. 
Barton and Madison) a full and accurate 
statement of General Lee's illness and death. 
The remote and real cause was the long 
continuance of depressing influences incident 
to the crushing responsibilities which were 
upon hira during the last year of the war, 
the disastrous termination of the struggle 
for the cause he so dearly loved, and the 
afflictions of his native South since the sur- 
render. 

"As he saw his little army gradually 
melt away before the countless hosts opposed 
to them, and compelled to yield at last to 
overwhelming numbers and resources ; as 
he witnessed the sufferings of his * poor 
boys/ as he was accustomed to call them, 
and thought of the condition of their fami- 
lies and of the South ; as his mails have 
been every day since flooded with most 
piteous letters from maimed soldiers or from 
the widows and orphans of the noble men 
who followed him, he has borne a calm ex- 
terior, and struggled for the good of his 



144 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 

State and the South with a heroism surpass- 
ing any which he ever displayed on the field 
of battle. But the very fibres of his great 
heart have been gradually wearing away 
until they have at last broken and the vital 
spark has fled. Both of his eminent physi- 
cians concur in the opinion that General Lee 
has died rather from moral than physical 
causes ; that his physical development was 
well nigh perfect, and that there was no 
merely physical reason why he might not 
have lived for years to come. The imme- 
diate cause ot his death was, in the opinion 
of his physicians, * mental and physical 
fatigue, inducing venous congestion of the 
brain, which, however, never proceeded as 
far as apoplexy or paralysis, but gradually 
caused cerebral exhaustion and death.' 

" On Wednesday, September 28th, he was 
more than usually busy. After attending 
chapel service, as he always did, he spent 
the whole morning attending to various 
matters connected with the interests of the 
college. At four o'clock P.M., he went to 
a meeting of the vestry of his church, over 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 145 



^hicli he presided. Matters of great im- 
portance to the interests of the church were 
under consideration, and the meeting was 
protracted for three hours. Returning home 
just in time for tea, he was sitting at the 
table with his family, when he was suddenly 
attacked, and became apparently speechless 
and incapable of motion. The next morn- 
ing he rallied, and, as there were no decisive 
indications of paralysis or apoplexy, it was 
hoped that the attack would prove nothing 
more serious than a temporary nervous pros- 
tration. All of the indications seemed fa- 
vorable to his recovery until last Monday. 
He spoke but little, and that only in answer 
to questions concerning his physical condi- 
tion. But this showed that he had recov- 
ered the power of speech. His intellect 
seemed entirely clear, and he gave most un- 
mistakable evidences that, while he lay for 
the most part in a stupor, he was, when 
aroused, entirely conscious. He seemed so 
much better on Saturday, that Dr. Madison 
playfully said to him ; 'General, you must 
make haste and get up from this bed. 
13 



146 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



" Traveller " is getting lazv, and you must 
make haste and give him the exercise he 
needs.' The General fixed his eyes steadily 
upon him and shook his head very emphati- 
cally, as if to indicate that he did not expect 
to ride ' Traveller ' again. 

" On Monday he became suddenly worse, 
and despite the best efforts of as fine medi- 
cal skill as the country affords, and the 
fervent prayers of anxious hearts, he 
gradually sunk until yesterday morning 
at half-past nine o'clock, when he breathed 
his last. 

" The nature of his illness was such that 
there was no opportunity for protracted 
conversation with him, and he uttered no 
word which can be seized on for sensational 
reports of his last hours. He was stricken 
at the post of duty. He fell with the har- 
ness on, and his calm, quiet death is a fit 
termination of his noble life. We need no 
* last words ' of Robert E. Lee. His deeds 
belong to history, while his life of devoted, 
unostentatious piety, and his firm and living 
trust in Jesus as his personal Kedeemer, 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 147 



give unmistakable evidence that he now 
wears a crown of fadeless glory, and has 
indeed entered upon that 'Rest that re- 
nt aiueth for the people of God.' " 

" Another correspondent states, 
that 

" ' During the early part of his sickness 
he slept much and spoke but little. He 
was rational when awake, and always 
recognized those who approached him. 
At times his mind seemed for a little while 
to wander, and on several occasions reverted 
to the army. He once ordered his tent 
to be struck, and at another time desired 
that ' Hill should be sent for.' " 

*^ Here is a good article from the 
Norfolk Yirginian. I will read it : 

" ' Virginia has been enriched with the 
graves of heroes, but there is one now 
open which is wider, and deeper, and more 



148 IVALKS ABOUT RICHMOND, 



mournful to look down in than any of them 
all. 

" * The last of the Cavaliers is dead ! 
and the announcement of the death of 
Robert E. Lee will be hailed by two hemis- 
pheres with emotions of unaffected sorrow ; 
but nowhere will his loss be mourned 
with such profound grief as in this State, 
whose history he has adorned with its most 
epic passages. 

" ' Descended from a knightly race, whose 
names shine out like stars in English 
history from the Norman invasion and 
the Crusades down, wdth his ancestral ban- 
ners hanging in St. George's Chapel in 
Windsor Castle, and possessed of noble 
traditions, he was a peerless gentleman and 
a splendid soldier. 

" ' As the grand central figure in the 
late war, he displayed a fertility of genius 
and a steadiness of courage which made 
him the solitary column that so long upheld 
the tottering fortunes of the Confederacy. 

" ' It was not, however, in the splendor 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 149 



of his military acliievements that he won 
his place in the popular heart. 

" ' The old world and the new applauded 
his splendid operations at the head of his 
ragged veterans; but it was reserved for 
him to present the sublime spectacle of 
vanquishing defeat. Herein it was that his 
colossal greatness was first made thoroughly 
manifest to the world, and, grand as were 
his performances upon the field of battle, a 
just conception of his character pronounces 
him more entirely great in misfortune than 
in success. 

" ' His virtues in their noble completeness 
and Christian perfection were only known 
in all their afiluence, when sheathing his 
sword he retired to the cloisters of Wash- 
ington College, and devoted himself to the 
service of his State in a novel and arduous 
profession. 

" ' Then it was that we understood fully his 
rare unselfishness, his knightly modesty, 
his unaffected patriotism, his Christian for- 
titude and sublime patience, " never weary 
of well-doing;" then it was, oh, couutry- 
13* 



150 WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 



men ! that our devotion to the Great Cap- 
tain deepened into a tender love and un- 
speakable homage for the great man. And 
now that he has gone "beyond the river" 
to join his favorite lieutenant, we are sore 
at heart and rebel against the dispensation 
of the Almighty. But we must school our- 
selves to bear the affliction, and remember 
that he has gone where he will enter into 
the joys of his Lord, leaving us a fame 
which irradiates the whole land with its 
supernal glories, which will shine on, and 
on, and on, till the heavens are rolled up 
]ike a scroll, and the Historic Muse writes 
Finis at the end of time with a pen of fire.' " 

The next day, there being no 
business to attend to, and no dis- 
position to attend to any, Mr. Ste- 
vens staid at home, and, gathering 
his family around him, continued 
to read to them the many deeply 
interesting articles suggested by 
the death of Lee. 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 151 

Said he: "There are articles in 
tliis paper taken from the Northern 
papers, which are very gratifying. 
I had feared that some of the papers 
of the North would even dare to 
speak evil of Lee. 

" As I cannot read all, however, 
I will only read what has been 
written by those who knew him 
best. 

'^General Breckenridge, speaking 
to the people of Louisiana, Kentucky, 
said : 

" ' I can convey no better idea of the im- 
pression he made upon me than to say that 
he inspired me with an ardent love for his 
person, and a profound veneration for his 
character. O, my friends, it was so mas- 
sive, noble, and grand in its proportions, 
that the most heroic might be proud to bear 
it ; yet so gentle and tender that a woman 
might claim and adopt it for her own.' 



152 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

'' General Preston, on the same 
occasion, on closing his address, said : 

" ' When I last saw him tlie raven hair 
had turned white. In a small village 
church his reverent head was bowed in 
prayer. The humblest step was that of 
Robert E. Lee, as he entered the portals of 
the temple erected to God. In broken re- 
sponse he answered to the services of the 
Church. Noble, sincere, and humble in his 
religion, he showed forth his true character 
in laying aside his sword to educate the 
youth of his country. Never did he appear 
more noble than at that time. He is now 
gone, and rests in peace, and has crossed 
that mysterious stream that Stonewall Jack- 
son saw with inspired eyes when he asked 
that he might be permitted to take his 
troops across the river, and forever rest be- 
neath the shadow of the trees.' 

" I find it very difficult," said Mr. 
Stevens, "to discriminate. There 



WALKS ABOUT KICHMOND. 153 

are so many beautiful articles I wish 
to read. 

" However, I will read some short 
extracts, that we may enjoy them 
together, and read more fully when 
I have leisure. Please remember, 
my daughter, to be very careful with 
all these papers, and preserve them 
for me. 

" Here is an extract from a speech 
made by one of General Lee's former 
staJQf: 

" ' We recall him as he appeared in the 
hour of victory, grand, imposing, awe-inspir- 
ing, yet self-forgetful, and humble. We re- 
call the great scenes of his triumph, when 
we hailed him victor on many a bloody 
field, and when, above the pseans of victory, 
we listened with reverence to his voice as 
he ascribed " all glory to the Lord of Hosts, 
from whom all glories are." We remember 
that grand magnanimity that never stooped 



154 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



to pluck those meaner things that grow 
nearest the earth 'upon the tree of victory, 
but which, with eyes turned to the stars, 
and hands raised towards heaven, gathered 
the golden fruits of mercy, pity, and holy 
charity, that ripen on its topmost boughs 
beneath the approving smile of the great 
God of battles. 

" ' We remember the sublime self-abnega- 
tion of Chancellorsville, when, in the midst 
of his victorious legions, who, with the light 
of battle yet on their faces, hailed him con- 
queror, he thought only of his great lieu- 
tenant lying wounded on the field, and 
transferred to him all the honor of that 
illustrious day. 

" ' I will be pardoned, I am sure, for refer- 
ring to an incident which affords to my mind 
a- most striking illustration of one of the 
grandest features of his character. 

" ' On the morning of May 3d, 1863, as 
many of you will remember, the final as- 
sault was made upon the Federal lines at 
Chancellorsville. 

" ' General Lee accompanied the troops 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 155 



in person, and, as they emerged from the 
fierce combat they had waged in " the depths 
of that tangled wilderness," driving the su- 
perior forces of the enemy before them across 
the open ground, he rode into their midst. 
The scene is one that can never be effaced 
from the minds of those who witnessed it. 
The troops were pressing forward w^ith all 
the ardor and enthusiasm of combat. The 
white smoke of musketry fringed the front 
of the line of battle, while the artillery on 
the hills in the rear of the infantry shook 
the earth with its thunder, and filled the 
air with the wild shrieks of the shells that 
plunged into the masses of the retreating 
foe. To add greater horror and sublimity 
to the scene, the Chancel lorsville House, and 
the woods surrounding it, were wrapped in 
flames. In the midst of this awful scene, 
General Lee, mounted upon that horse which 
we all remember so well, rode to the front 
of his advancing battalions. His presence 
was the signal for one of those uncontroll- 
able outbursts of enthusiasm which none 
can appreciate who have not witnessed them. 



156 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

"'The fierce soldiers, with their faces 
blackened with the smoke of battle, the 
wounded crawling with feeble limbs from 
the fury of the devouring flames, ail seemed 
possessed with a common impulse. One 
long, unbroken cheer, in which the feeble 
cry of those who lay helpless on the 
earth blended with the strong voices of 
those who still fought, rose high above the 
roar of battle, and hailed the presence of 
the victorious chief He sat in the full re- 
alization of all that soldiers dream of — tri- 
umph ; and as I looked upon him in the 
complete fruition of the success which his 
genius, courage, and confidence in his army 
had won, I thought that it must have been 
from some such scene that men in ancient 
days ascended to the dignity of the gods. 

" * There is one other incident to w^hich I 
beg permission to refer, that I may perfect 
the picture. On the 3d day of July, 1863, 
the last assault of the Confederate troops 
upon the heights of Gettysburg failed, and 
again General Lee was among his baffled 
and shattreed battalions as they sullenly 
14 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 157 



retired from their brave attempt. The his- 
tory of that battle is yet to be written, and 
the responsibility for the result is yet to be 
fixed. But there, with the painful con- 
sciousness that his plans had been frustrated 
by others, and that defeat and humiliation 
had overtaken his army, in the presence of 
his troops he openly assumed the entire re- 
sponsibility of the campaign and of the last 
battle. One word from him would have 
relieved him. of this responsibility, but that 
word he refused to utter, until it could be 
spoken without fear of doing the least injus- 
tice. 

" ' Thus, my fellow-soldiers, I have pre- 
sented to you our great commander in the 
supreme moments of triumph and defeat. 
I cannot more strongly illustrate his char- 
acter. Has it been surpassed in history? 
Is there another instance of such self-abne- 
gation among men ? The man rose high 
above victory in the one instance, and, 
harder still, the man rose superior to dis- 
aster in the other. It was such incidents 
as these that gave General Lee the abso- 



158 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



lute and undoubting confidence and affec- 
tion of his soldiers. 

" ' His first care was for the wounded of 
both armies, and he was among the fore- 
most at the burning mansion, where some 
of them lay. But, at that moment, when 
the transports of his victorious troops were 
drowning the roar of battle with acclama- 
tions, a note was brought to him from Gene- 
ral Jackson. It was brought to General 
Lee as he sat on his horse near the Chan- 
cellorsville House, and, unable to open it 
with his gauntleted hand, he passed it to 
me, with directions to read it to him. The 
note made no mention of the wound that 
General Jackson had received, but con- 
gratulated General Lee upon the great 
victory. 

" ' I shall never forget the look of pain 
and anguish that passed over his face as he 
listened. With a voice broken with emo- 
tion, he bade me say to General Jackson 
that the victory was his, and that the con- 
gratulations were due to him. I know not 
how others may regard this incident, but, 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 159 

for myself, as I gave expression to the 
thoughts of his exalted mind, I forgot the 
genius that won the day, in my reverence 
for the generosity that refused its glory.' " 

^'General Gordon, speaking of 
General Lee at Appomattox, says : 

"'Can lever forget? No, never can I 
forget the words which fell from his lips as 
I rode beside him amidst the defeated, de- 
jected, and weeping soldiery, when, turning 
to me, he said : " I could wish that I was 
numbered among the fallen in the last 
battle.' " 

^'General Wade Hampton, in a 
speech delivered at Columbia, S. C, 
said : 

" ' Now that he is fallen, I may mention 
what I have never spoken of before, to show 
you not only what were the feelings that 
actuated him in the duty to which his be- 
loved countrymen called him, but what 
noble sentiments inspired him, when he 



160 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

Baw the cause for which he had been fight- 
ing so long about to perish. Just before 
the surrender, after a night devoted to the 
most arduous duties, as one of his staff 
came in to see him in the morning, he 
found him worn and weary and disheart- 
ened, aud the General said to him : " How 
easily I could get rid of this and be at rest. 
I have only to ride along the line, and all 
will be over. But," said he — and there 
spoke the true Christian patriot — " it is our 
duty to live, for what will become of the 
women and children of the South if we are 
not here to protect them.' " 

On the morning of the IGth, Mr. 
Stevens read to his family the fol- 
lowing account of the funeral at 
Lexington, Ya. : 

"This is a bright and beautiful day, in 
sad contrast to the feelings of our stricken 
people, but fit emblem of the eternal sun- 
light in which the pure spirit of our noble 
chieftain now basks. 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 161 

" At early dawn delegations from Staun- 
ton and the surrounding country began to 
arrive, and, up to twelve o'clock, the people 
continued to pour in, until there was, de- 
spite the fact that the washing away of the 
bridges cut off many of the people who 
would most gladly have been here, the 
largest crowd ever assembled in Lexington. 
All classes came to do honor to our beloved 
and lost hero. His old soldiers, who fol- 
lowed him so clieerfully in the darkest 
hours of the Confederate struggle ; the pro- 
fessors of the college, who he ever treated 
with such marked consideration ; the stu- 
dents, to whom he was in every sense a 
loving father and an unexampled guide; 
the Faculty and corps of cadets of the Vir- 
ginia Military Institute, in whose welfare 
and success he ever manifested so lively an 
interest; the sovereign representatives of 
his native, loved Virginia ; the citizens of 
the town and country whom he honored 
with his last days; in fact, every class, 
young 'and old, rich and poor, white and 
black, turned out to do him honor, for he 
14* 



162 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



"was the friend of all. "With a punctuality 
■which would have been pleasant to the great 
hero if living, the following was observed as 
the order of the procession : 

" Music. 

"Escort of Honor, consisting of Officers 

"and Soldiers of the Confederate 

" Army. 

" Chaplain and other Clergy. 

" Hearse and Pall-Bearers. 

" General Lee's Horse. 

" The Attending Physicians. 

" Trustees and Faculty of Washington 

" College. 

" Dignitaries of the State of Virginia. 

" Visitors and Faculty of Virginia Military 

"Institute. 

" Other Representative Bodies and 

" Distinguished Visitors. 
" Alumni of Washington College. 

" Citizens. 
" Cadets Virginia Military Institute. 
"Students Washington College as Guard 
" of Honor. 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 163 

" At ten o'clock precisel)^ the procession 
was formed on the college grounds, in front 
of the President's house, and moved down 
Washington Street, up Jefferson Street to 
the Franklin Hall, thence to Main Street, 
where it was joined in front of the hotel by 
the representatives of the State of Virginia 
and other representative bodies in their 
order, and by the organized body of the 
citizens in front of the court-house. 

" The procession then moved by the road 
to the Virginia Military Institute, where it 
was joined by the visitors. Faculty, and 
cadets of the Virginia Military Institute, in 
their respective places. The procession was 
closed by the students of Washington Col- 
lege as a guard of honor, and then moved 
up through the Institute and college grounds 
to the chapel. 

" The procession was halted in front of 
the chapel, when the cadets of the Institute 
and the students of Washington College 
were marched through the college chapel 
past the remains, and were afterwards drawn 
up in two bodies on the south side of the 



164 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



chapel. The remainder of the procession 
then proceeded into the chapel, and were 
seated under the direction of the marshals. 
The gallery and side blocks were reserved 
for ladies. 

"As the procession moved off to a sol- 
emn dirge by the Institute band, the bells 
of the town began to toll, and the Institute 
battery fired minute guns, which were kept 
up during the whole exercises. 

"In front of the National Hotel the 
procession was joined by the committee of 
the Legislature, consisting of Colonel W. H. 
Taylor, Colonel E. D. Pendleton, W. L. 
Riddick, Major Kelley, George Walker, S. 
S. Turner, H. Bowen, T. O. Jackson, and 
Marshall Hanger. 

"General B. T. Johnston was in com- 
mand of the soldier guard of honor, aided 
by colonel J. K. Edmundson, Colonel R. L. 
Maury, and Major J. B. Dorman. Captain 
J. J. White, Professor in the College, was 
chief marshal. 

"It was remarked that the different 
classes who joined in the procession mingled 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 165 



into each other, and that among the Boards 
of the College and the Institute, the Facul- 
ties, the students and cadets, the Legislative 
committee, the delegations, and even the 
clergy, were many who might with equal 
propriety have joined the soldier guard of 
honor, for they, too, had followed the stan- 
dard of Lee in the days that tried men's 
Bouls. 

" Along the streets the buildings were all 
appropriately draped, and crowds gathered 
on the corners and in the balconies to see 
the procession pass. Not a flag floated 
above the procession, and nothing was seen 
that looked like an attempt at display. The 
old soldiers wore their ordinary citizen's 
dress, with a simple black ribbon in the 
lappel of their coats, and •' Traveller," led 
by two old soldiers, who had the simple 
trappings of mourning. 

"The Virginia Military Listitute was 
very beautifully draped, and from its turrets 
hung at half-mast, and draped in mourning, 
the flags of all the States of the late South- 
ern Confederacy. 



166 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

"The family, appropriately joined by 
Drs. Barton and Madison, the attending 
physicians, and Colonels W. H. Taylor and 
C. S. Venable, members of General Lee's 
staff during the war, occupied seats imme- 
diately in front of the pulpit, and the clergy, 
of whom a number were present, Faculty of 
the College, and Faculty of the Institute, 
had places on the platform. 

"The coffin was literally covered with 
flowers and evergreens, while the front of 
the drapery thrown over it was decorated 
with crosses of evergreen and immortelles. 

" Kev. Dr. Pendleton, the long intimate 
personal friend of General Lee, his chief of 
artillery during the war, and his pastor the 
past five years, read the beautiful burial 
services of the Episcopal Church. No ser- 
mon was preached, and nothing said besides 
the simple service, in accordance with the 
known wishes of General Lee. 

"After the funeral services were con- 
cluded in the chapel, the body was removed 
to the vault prepared for its recej^tion, and 
the concluding services read by the chaplain 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 167 



from the bank on the southern side of the 
chapel, in front of the vault. 

" There was sung in the chapel the 1 24th 
hymn of the Episcopal collection ; and, 
after the coffin was lowered into the vault, 
the congregation sang with fine efiect the 
grand old hymn : 

* How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord.' 

" The vault is constructed of brick, lined 
with cement. The top just reaches the floor 
of the library, and will be double-capped 
with white marble, on which is the simple 
inscription : 

"ROBERT EDWARD LEE, 

" BORN JANUARY 19tH, 1807. 
"died OCTOBER 12th, 1870. 

"After the funeral the soldiers were 
marched to the court-house, and there 
unanimously adopted the following resolu- 
tions : 

"Resolvedj by the officers and soldiers of 
the former Confederate army, now assembled. 



1G8 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



That we have followed the body of our be- 
loved General to the tomb witS inexpressible 
sorrow ; the last sad rites are over, and, as 
we venerated and loved him in life, we ar- 
dently desire to guard his sacred dust. 
Here, at the home of his adoption, in the 
edifice reared by himself, and dedicated to 
the service and worship of his God, may 
his remains be permitted to sleep until the 
awakening which shall clothe them in robes 
of immortality. 

"Resolved, That, with the utmost defer- 
ence for their feelings and wishes, we ask 
leave to present to Mrs. Lee and her family 
this expression of our anxious desire that, 
to us and his neighbors and friends, and the 
authorities of his college, may be granted 
the favor and honor of preserving and 
watching his sepulchre. 

"Resolved, That the secretary of the meet- 
ing communicate copies of these and our 
former resolutions to Mrs. Lee. 

" And thus have ended the funeral ob- 
sequies of the foremost man in all the 
earth." 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 169 



During the day Frank was busy 
preparing for his departure the next 
morning. He had suffered, in com- 
mon with all, the grief of the past 
few days, but felt that he had en- 
joj^ed a great privilege in having 
been in Richmond, at a time when 
so many interesting and important 
events were occurring. 

In the evening all gathered once 
more for the talk which was before 
so suddenly interrupted. 

''Uncle," said Frank, "will you 
please read this little poem which I 
cut from a paper to-day ? You read 
se well, I want you to read it for us 
all. It is by Rev. A. J. Ryan." 

"With pleasure," said Mr. Ste- 
vens, and read : 

'' Forth from its scabbard, pure and bright 
Flashed the sword of Lee ; 
15 



170 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



Far in the front of the deadly fight, 
High o'er the brave in the cause of right, 
Its stainless sheen, like a beacon light, 
Led us to victory. 

" Out of its scabbard, vrhere full long 

It slumbered peacefully — 
Roused from its rest by the battle song, 
Shielding the feeble, smiting the strong. 
Guarding the right, avenging the wrong — 

Gleamed the sword of Lee ! 

" Forth from its scabbard, high in air. 

Beneath Virginia's sky — 
And they who saw it gleaming there 
And knew who bore it, knelt to swear 
That where that sword led, they would dare 

To follow and to die. 

"Out of its scabbard, never hand 
Waved sword from stain as free. 
Nor purer sword led braver band, 
Nor braver bled for a brighter land. 
Nor brighter land had a cause as grand. 
Nor cause a chief like Lee !" 

" I intend/' said Frank, " to attach 
that little poem to a photograph of 
Lee, which I purchased to-day, and 



WALKS ABOUT EICHMOND. 171 



the two will be very precious to 



me." 



" Now," said Mrs. Stevens, " oblige 
me by reading this extract from the 
London Standard, that the children 
may know something of how the 
people in the Old World speak of 
Lee." 

Mr. Stevens read : 

"The announcement that General R. E. 
Lee has been struck down by paralysis, and 
not expected to recover, will be received, 
even at this crisis, with universal interest, 
and will everywhere excite a sympathy and 
regret which testify to the deep impression 
made on the world at large by his character 
and achievements. Few are the generals 
who have earned, since history began, a 
greater military reputation ; still fewer are 
the men of similar eminence, civil or mili- 
tary, whose personal qualities would bear 
comparison with his. The bitterest enemies 
of his country hardly dared to whisper a 



172 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 

word against the character of her most dis- 
tinguished general, while neutrals regarded 
him with an admiration for his deeds and 
a respect for his lofty and unselfish nature 
which almost grew into veneration, and his 
own countrymen learned to look up to him 
with as much confidence and esteem as they 
ever felt for Washington, and with an affec- 
tion which the cold demeanor and austere 
temper of Washington could never inspire. 
The death of such a man, even at a moment 
so exciting as the present, when all thoughts 
are absorbed by a nearer and present con- 
flict, would be felt as a misfortune by all 
who still retain any recollection of the in- 
terest with which they followed the Virgi- 
nian campaigns, and by thousands who have 
almost forgotten the names of Fredericks- 
burgh, and Chancellors ville, the Wilderness, 
and Spotsylvania. Truer greatness, a loftier 
nature, a spirit more unselfish, a character 
purer, more chivalrous, the world has rarely, 
if ever, known. Of stainless life, and deep 
religious feeling, yet free from all taint of 
cant and fanaticism, and as dear and con- 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 173 

genial to the Cavalier Stuart as the Puritan 
Stonewall Jackson ; unambitious, but ready 
to sacrifice all at the call of duty ; devoted 
to his cause, yet never moved by his feel- 
ings beyond the line prescribed by his judg- 
ment ; never provoked by just resentment 
to punish wanton cruelty by reprisals which 
would have given a character of needless 
savagery to the war — both North and South 
owe a deep debt of gratitude to him, and 
the time will come when both will be 
equally proud of him. And well they may, 
for his character and his life afford a com- 
plete answer to the reproaches commonly 
cast on money-grubbing, mechanical Ame- 
rica. A country which has given birth to 
men like him, and those who followed him, 
may look the chivalry of Europe in the 
face without shame ; for the fatherlands of 
Sidney and of Bayard never produced a 
nobler soldier, gentleman, and Christian, 
than General Kobert E. Lee." 

"Well, Frank, you leave us in 

15* 



174 WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 



the morning. Have you enjoyed 
your walks about Richmond ?" 

"Oil, very much, uncle; and I 
will never forget your kindness, in 
taking so much trouble to interest 
me." 

"You have walked about a beau- 
tiful city," said Mr. Stevens. " Try 
to live so that you may some time 
walk the streets of that city ' which 
hath foundations whose builder and 
maker is God ; where there shall be 
no more death, neither sorrow, nor 
crying, neither shall there be any 
more pain ; where there shall be no 
need of the sun, neither of the 
moon, to shine in it : for the glory 
of God shall lighten it, and the 
Lamb is the light thereof " 

After further conversation, read- 
ing the scriptures, and engaging in 



WALKS ABOUT RICHMOND. 175 



a short prayer, the family retired 
to rest; and, the next morning 
early, Frank, loaded with messages 
of love to his parents, took the train 
which was to bear him home, and 
soon Richmond was forgotten in 
thoughts of the pleasures which 
awaited him on his arrival there. 



THE END. 



EDGAR'S STRUGGLE. 

A STOHY OP TEMPTATION. 

Teaching the importance of obedience to 

parents, and the danger of yielding to temp- 
tation. 

108 pp., 18mo, cloth. Price 45 cents. 

Illustrated with two beautiful cuts. 



RED AND BLUE 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL TICKETS, 

On stiff board. 

With a verse of Scripture on each. 

Price 75 cents per thousand. 



CARDS CONTAINING 

THE LORD'S PRAYER, 

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For Sunday-school use. 

Price $1.50 per hundred. 
Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of re- 
tail price. Liberal discount to the trade. 
Address 

C. McCAKTHY, Publisher, 

ElCHMOND, Va. 



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